Local Epitome.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 41, 31 December 1863, Page 5

Local Epitome.

Ti.mt to the departure of tfn; last mail; the fumoui cabal :i) the ilMtw of livjircsHitiiOvf-H ii;ul, in a Hou-o. and mieNp..,-t.illy, ;it a late huuroi'tfie night, re-mtioducnl 1 :a- debate on tho resolutions respi-ciin; toe removal ot I'll- seat <'! Government, and, by tl.o ma;m uvru of -Mi'. Fitzgerald, bad l.urkcd nil furlli.r ui-oushioii j t iid deliberation, and prevented an\ " whipping in' ol nj>jlo^ition mouthers hv cloning the debate, and ln-ii!|riiiK oil a division by a technieid lorm iij the House which lias since iseen repealed. <-in the 2nd d' I)i ivmluT; tlio Legislative Council Mliruied t'nt- resolutions ot' the other House : and the J'roviitetal Council Am-klanJ vcro spcciallv situ, moned to p rot list si/j.unst the; unfairness of mm* a change. Considerable excitement there has vol been on t;,o subject oi;t of dooi-s, for the simple reason' t.iat tin' people of this i'rovinep place some nliam.on the justice of the JJritisb Crown, mai on tee honorable forboaranio of the itowrnor., ol the.Xustralian Colonies, from int.-rtcn'njj in tin: 10e.,1 dispnt-a et auoto.er Colony, n{ (lu- mere solicitation of a Lure majority m ;!v ivvre-. nlativcs, and ill din-el opposition to the ; 11 of a hti'X<; inajorin" of the colonist?— and know Tinst so injuriously would tin; chiuige, wire it brought about, work for thu interest* oi botb inlands !bat the .seat of Government must either be retnrncil to Auckland, or, what is moie likely, that Otajro and Auckland united would obtain separ.it : on of the two blonds; in which caw Unm-di-.. and Auckland would bo tlio capital of eilher on.. respectively. The sprint: session of tlio Supreme Court was hrl I on tile 1.-t J-Veembcr. The calendar was i.ot, as 1.: us I be colonHt.s are e<-.neo! Ned, a heavv one, a proportion of the prisoners l.einf» either uiihfarv men or militia voiiuiiecrs. There was ote-. a>e of aSsfluit with intent, two eases of shooting with intent; fn, m.v of .slabbing with intent, two other inn-* of ?u,j - two oi burglary, nuo oi'i'oigvrv, one of stealing from the pei-sou, and four of larceny. The Mao; i prisoners, iourteen in number, arrested -it Nelson in tile net of attempting to induce a part of tiieir tribe living there to return to the AYaikato and assist the rebellion, were remanded until the next .--fusion, tile native otiieer of Nelson, Mr. Mackay, not belie*, in at tendance-. These men belong to a tribe livint; in a district between Kawhia and the Wuikato. Xhe chccrful anil gallant manner in which men < alt ages and classes in this IVovinc" have miic ibrward, at preat personnl sacrifice, to do battle for the!! adopted country in tlio hour of her need, is a fact in the aniwis of the prt:,->ciit rebellion which will over !••• pointed to with pride. The claims laid hv the mnobers of the loi-al forces lire, we think, just, and fona a first charge oil the roiifineated lands of the rebel.- ; for the men of Auckland, like those of Tiiranaiu. while they will have to pay their fair .-.hare of tie expense* of the war, have also suffered as the re.it of New Zealand have not suffered, ill giving their personal services at the risk of life, and with tho pr.'Sen:. certainty ot much hardship and and pecuniary loss. Tlio llou.se of Representatives, how.-ve:, deferred elUertaijiiuu the proposal at that time, athe rioviueial Council bad n6t expression ; their views ujioh tho subject. The question car.ie . i in the I'rovincial Council, l.ui. the debate was p 0..:. jione-1, and meantime the Assembly was prorcem I. AVitiiin the last few dnys, liowet-er, the matter w: .s finally ui-cussi\l; when'the motion, "That, in • opini..;! of iliis Council it id expedient and desiral.. ■ uiattoe Volunteer and.Militia corneal lies who have !• • e. engaged on actual sc-rvice during the present i recti..n in this province should be entitled to C<-privii-ges gitmtcj to the Military tt-ttlm clsumi- . : tl-.o ' Auekiand "\Vn c to Lands Act," ami Unit i Hciios- fee Huperimpadent bo reqiaVted to f<.iv«td this ivs.-lrt'.on to tlie House of lirepresc-ntatiM r. was ncgaiivo.'. on the following division, rer t; motion: (7) .Ve.'t-.-. ilowe: ICintv, K:.:, AVynn, Sw.uisoii, a:..1 GaU-ioeiiev ; uipias-t U (u . Messrs. Newc.an; .May, Jinid\, .3. O'N-ii.,-r.y.'icii, Ti.tll. K'r.-.is, MeKen?.ie. u*eor/;e, and Man; ■ 'I'll.: ojijucients ,-elroitly inixed up Die V.'ailoi Militia iv:_'iiv :its amee;?,t tlie elaiuiants, and t'.i:. arirued atrai'i-t the ants on the ground that tii-v wouhi absol 'i too hu-.ch iana. 'J'ii" re'i'l Ist ('lass Militia, 1 who have Tie-., j iavli uUt iov t.'ie third time, returned to town on th--■Ith, after an absence of six weeks. Poor fellow 1 lnauy of them have returned to town to tind lh»silutiiii..:!!!, v.-hkli th«y tell mx bT-fore, filled i y by e'.in-r u;en, and many are even now wandeiiteaii ~-ut the town out ol i:!:'.pioyinent,orhaveboenrouuoc. to the uecc.isity of taking the- tilst vl-otk which ollcn-., hov.-i vet- unsuitable to their former habits and iv.p. - bilities. And these ate tho men to whom the count:> is too miserably poor to a pa'try fifty acies o: land for services performed fit such a saenfico! Tenders have been issued fi.r the supply o.'(i; ;- bottoiiicii I.LaU for ibo AV.iikalo, capal.le ol ua:i_\ in:ten to"i> (.ic.M, and drawing otily nine ijiehi;- 01 w.;l<when loaded. Tl'.o beats' are to be cousti(icted the diai- na! jirincipk-. Vfhvn it is coiiMilert.it j.ov. i-reai a iratlie is eeeasioncit in fitniisliins,' supplies . . the s, v, i-d ihieesal tiie front, the necessity of pr - vi.liuL' tor the slieaiio:; of the \V.-!i];.'i:o is a matt. i Lieat" impoi-taie.v, on account of the vast savin ; r o: carri.isie of jiioviiider which would otherwise Le :• • ouired for pack horse.s and lmilooks. On fJ.t= ;:h U-ht.-C.el Aiis'teii of tin: l lth, die ; oi his wounds at the Queen's Kedouhl, tho Im . oi'lci r v.bose lift.- has be- :i ia rifa-ed at the stora. ; ; el iiiri. on the i'lth o:' Novaatcr hit. He **»•

Eoverely hit in the groin ami tho bull could not bo extracted. Colonel Boston had only just_ succeeded to a large property in Kngfnnd a short time before his decease. Ills bodv was brought down to town and buried, alongside of tlio.se of the other officers who have fallen in this war, in the public cemetery, with military honours. Ensign Due-row, of tho -10th, wounded in the knee, lias since died, and was buried on the 27th intl. beside liiin. The prisoner.-', IS3 in number, taken at Rangiriri, were brought down to Otahuhtf, and then by water lo H. 31.5.5. 'Curai/oa,' the Hag ship in harbour, and havo since been transferred to the * Marion ' hulk, which was fitted lip for their reception. The " gentlemen of Waikato" are said to be infected with a cutaneous disease of 'Such a loathsome and contagious nature that their presence among uh at this Benson of tho year is fratagfct with much mischief. Fe<v who have not witnessed can imagine the fearful extent to which it has spread among the natives hi tho interior. Their filthy habits, the practice of wearing each other's garments, and huddling together in one crowded, unventilated, reeking wharo, foster the disease which, proving more virulent as it advances, infects whole villages, covering the skin with iothsome blotches and pustules, attended with an irritation which at times j becomes 'unbearable. In persons of a scrofulous I tendency these pustules assume the form of ruimin'g j sorus ; and we. have seen instances in which infants have become completely crippled from the spreading of thfc offensive wounds thus caused., The seels o! this infection wore brought from India, and may be looked upon as ono of the evils arising out ol the war in which the natives have, involved tho country. A niedical friend of great experience among tho paupers ot the mother country assures us it is far more virulent and lothsonie than the cutaneous eruption I found amongst that class of persons, requiring great skill and patience to eradicate, and the utmost caution to prevent. They aro guarded by a detachment of tin; lo;d. Their capture was at first attended with some hopes that the Waikatos would at once submit; but when the terms of submission were made, clear to them, namely, "occupation by the Queen of the King i territory, confiscation of rebel binds and giving r.p of arms and ammunition," on!}- two or three old men nnd women submitted... Tho following letters were laid upon the table of the House of Representatives on the 7tli December:— N garuawahia, December 4th, 1563. Friend Wiremu, —Writer of the letter to l'ene Pukewhau, your letter hns arrived, in which you say I that our guns and powder be given up to the I Governor. Hearken, we brought away no guns or | powder with us. All the I'akelias witnessed the ] iiwimming across the lake of the survivors ; their | guns and their powder were all lost in the lake. j These are the persons who escaped hither belonging i to the tribes Xgatihnua and Xgatiiiouki : — i Tamati Waka, ICo Kepa, Kihia, Riki, Paora, j Taniora, Heta, Tarati, Fparnimn, Ke-.veti Waikato, (r) Wiremu, Matenga, Rawiri, Tutaki, I'oko, Tel'aka- I roa, Patiliaua, myself (ko ahau'),—that is all. ! 'Those of the Ngatimahuca, Ngatihenetu, Ngutirau. • Ngatiwhauanga, Ngatihikairo, Te Ngaungua, | Ngatiteata, .Veatihine, Te Patupo, Ngatiimho. j Ngakapa, Karihau, Pr.ora, Henare, Aropiu, Frueti, j Henare, Paora, Kingi Waikawau, Ilone, Tamati, ; Pene Pukewhau, Hone Parengarenga, Himiona, j Erueti, Hairaona, Toma. (that is all). j All tho guns and powder were lost in the water; j not ono was brought away. Do not suppose I am | concealing the truth from you. No ; this is the j real ruth, tho perfect truth. You say I am * still in arms at the present time. Now, I j will thus reply: If I wero still- desirous of j bearing arms, I would have remained at Paetai, for i some of our other tribes were staying there—2oo (400 ?) —with arms and ammunition. I Understand, I cannot bear arms whilst the clui:V-j of Waikato, who have been made prisoners of, are ■ making proposals of peace. Friend, hear also that 200 (iOO'r) went to assist (at Eangiriri). They paddled across the lake, landed, and went on, and arrived at the top of a ridge, where they saw white tlags flying. That was all. Thereupon they sat down on the top of the ridge. Afterwards Himi, a half-caste, came up. in company with Tiremio. They said, " Peace has been made." The 200 (400 ?) then returned to their respective homes. Friend, it is your side alone which is still in arms ; that is to Bay the steamer, which is at work in the Waikato making pas as it goes on. When they finish one, they como a little further and make another. Now, then, let the steamer stay away ; do not let it como hither.—That is ail. Wrp.EMU Tamkr.lNA.

Nga'ruawah'ia, December i, 1.563. [This letter is addressed to the prisoners.] To .Vgat:haua, To Waikato, Hikairo, Malianga, To Ngatiteata, To Tainui. Salutations to you all. O sirs, 'O friends. 0 pons. Your word (letter) has readied us. We are not well able to fulfil jour word. We liave not vet taken breath, both on account of your misfortune and on account of the enemy .constantly driving ua from place to place. We are quite out of breath. What vra liavo done since jou left is thinking over your word and c-jn'.icui-Uy retiring ; m the t>C<-it:ner nnoves this way we move also ; that ia what we are r.6-?r constantly doinje. Here end the words to you. I sjcwell then all of you. I. know you r.re wcli feared for), jour only outi'ering is being prisoners. It is we who are Buffering greatly. Enough. The wounded who arc dead are Tereiti and Whakariti, these are dead. From W. Tamkeaka. To Waikato, who are carried to Auckland. [TBANSLiTIO.V.] Government llousc, December 6, 1803. O, ail you Chiefs of Waikato! 0, Pene Pukewhau, —Your letter of the 2nd December has reached me. Sons, my words to you are these: The General must go uninterrupted to Xgaruawahia ; the flag of the Queen must be hoisted there. Then I will talk to you. (Signed) G. Gbey, Governor. Whilst alluding to tho Kangiriri affair, tho following instance of devotion, by which tho life of a Maori chief was preserved by tho act of his wife, at the loss of her own, during the lato storming of Rangiriri, is worthy of record. The chief Xgakapa, of the Ngatiwhauaunga tribe, w.-.j one of the fighting men in tho Rangiriri redoubt, and with him was his ■wife Eangiura, as indeed inaiiy other women were present and fell on the occasion, remaining in the rear and loading the guns, while those they had just loaded were being tired by their hu:ft>andH. During the engagement Eangiura seeing a soldier level his rifloat.her husband, at ODce, and with tho quick instinct of affection, threw herself in front of him, and received tho bullet in her own breast. Xgakapa escaped unhurt. Thin bravo vroman. who thus Bacnfied herself for her husband was the daughter of ' chief, Te Aioraroa, of tho same tribe, tho N gati whauaun ga. On tho 9th intelligence was received in town that tho Queen's " a G wos flying at Ngaruawahia, over the "King's" palace. At noon tho guns fired at Fort Bntomart, and from her Majesty's aliips 'Est,' ' Miranda,' and ' CuraQoa,' lying in harbour, royal salutes were fired in honour of the occasion. Sincehas formed tho head quarters of General Cameron, and communication by water between Port Waikato and that plaeo has been kept up, doing away <with the ospenso and toilsomer.ecs of land carnage. Tho river Waikato between Manga-t-rwhiri and thy sea has hitherto bean almost unknown; and no reliable information could bo obtained of tho character of its entrance. Absurd s tories wero current respecting the impracticability of tfce bar at its mouth ; but investigation hae dissipated all these, and Waikato has now proved to be the vent best harbour_ an the West Coast of the North Island. It has a straight entrance from seaward, with a depth of 13 feet at the lowest spring tides, tho mean, rise beinff 8 feet, rendering tho entrance available to merchant .ships of' largo capacity. But good as is tho entrance, tho harbour itself is better still, well sheltered from evory wind, having excellent anchorage with a bottom of sand and mud, and with sufficient room for a numerous fleet. Tho site for a town has been solected and surveyed by Mr. Kcaphy—a town, in our opinion, destined speedily to become one of tho most important in Nov.- Zealand. 11. JI.S.S. ' Eclips-/ is at present at anchor, in six fathoms, within two hundred feet of tho short) ; and tho water runs deep close to tho sito of tho town.

At tho TJiamca oju'ritio/is hare been curried steadily on. A largo expedition of a thousand men of all forces were pent down in November. Theso iiava established themsulven in their several positions, and a line of rwloubw now r' nehea across the country from the moutli of tiio Thames to Raglan, on the coatf. foriniup an outtr iine of defcnw.

I On tho 10th the following letters, which had |)iisso<l between lVno l'.ikewhau :iiul (lie Governor, mid between Air. Fox and Pone Pukewhau,—or as ho is more often .-allod, To Wharepu, the fighting General of the Maoris at Han^riri,--«•««; published, Mid the firm tune of that from Mr. Fox did much to allay tho .suspicion that a hollow peace was about to be made un. , Vent- Vukeu'l'Oii to his Exccllcm-y the Governor. Xgaruawahia, 2oth Nov., 0 Friend and Governor, —Salutation! This is to sav to vou. Tho fight has been fought, and some are dead; "some live. Restore to us Waikato. Let it suffice to you tho men are dead. Restore to us thoso who live.' Kuough. From vour friend Peno Pukewhau, l-'iom All the Chiefs of the Waikato. To Governor Grey. It will he seen that the Maori, in laying aside his arms for a time, was anxious to enter on a far more ' dangerous contest with us, it h° had only been I allowed to exercise the cunning diplomacy in which I that treacherous race have proved themselves no 1 Mean adepts. They were quite willing to have made I terms of peace provided Wailiato had been restored to them, and we had remained satisfied with the death of a lew score of pitiful savages as ntn for tho ! lives of butchered settlers, of gallant gentlemen and ' bravo troops, who have perished in asserting the sovereignty of their Queen and in affording protection to their fellow countrymen from bloodshed and rapine. The Mood of our fallen soldiers, of our settlors butchered with tho murderous rifle or more brutal tomahawk, the incubus of nn enormous debt in which we are involved for tho purpose of suppressing a wanton and unprovoked rebellion are as nothing in the eyes of the chiefs of Waikato. " Restore I to us Waikato, let out' dead suffice. Restore to us the men of Waikato—and then peace!" There was a time when, bearing in mind the dishonorable close of the war of 'GO-Gl, the colonists ot New Koaland might have feared the proffer of overtures such as these, and that another similar calamity was H'-iiii impending over thein. They vest calmly, however, in the assurance that in the hands of the men who are now at tho head of affairs no such deplorable fatuity will be allowed to prevail, and tho straightforward letter of tho Colonial Secretary, Mr. Fox, in reply to Penc Pukewhau has reassured tliem. It is as follows :— " The Iwn. Mr. Fox to Vine Vukt'.t'hau. " Auckland, Nov. 30, lSt>3. " I'cne I'nkewhau, —Your ietter has arrived, and the mailer has been carefully considered. j "This is the reply to you, and also to all the pco- ] pie of Ngaruawahia. "The Governor will hold no communication whatever with yon while you continue in arms ; but give up all your guns, your powder, and all your amis to the Governor. Then only will a way of communication be open for you ; at present there is none. " That is the word, " From vour friend, " W. Fox." To Wharcpu has since died of his wounds received ' at Rangiriri; they were five in number, two being in j the chest, and one in !he neck. He fought bravely j to the last ill spite of his wounds, and is the leading i warrior of the Waikatos. I The Houses of Assembly were prorogued on the | Mill, the Auckland Kiile Volunteers forming the j guard of honor on this occasion, The proceedings were of tho usual character, with the exception of j tho very unusual and indecorous course pursued by the Speaker, which has been elsewhere animadverted upon, and which was of so gross a character as to warrant, we think, tho removal of that gentleman from tho office for which he lias shown himself so unworthy. Captain Jackson and his " forest rangers" acquitted themselves most creditably on the lltli of the month. On iho 9th, Friday, they started, 2S in number, into the dense bush south of the Wair<>a, and struck a Maori trail almost immediately ; this they followed up at a sharp pace till Sunday morning the 11th, when they came upon a party of about 00 natives, took them by surprise, killed seven ami wounded several more—announcing their arrival with their carbines, and attacking them revolver in hand. Ilad Captain Jackson's little band been accompanied by a dozen powerful dogs, few of these wretches •would have escaped, as the dogs would have held them until they would have liven made all right by the rangers. The plunder taken in their camp shows them to have been the party who murdered Trust's children at Kennedy's farm, and others. The affair was over in three minutes. The foresters did their duty like men, capturing two flags, two pistols, one double-barrelled gur, and destroying a quantity of ammunition. This is the way to bring the rebels to thoir senies. Give them no " breathing time." " lie swift like lightning in the execution ; And lot thy blows, doubly redoubled on, j Fall like amazing thunder on the casque Of thy adverse pernicious enemy." A new choral society has been established, to be j called the " Auckland Harmcnic Society," of which | Mr. J. Brown will be the conductor, and Mr. Bealc j the leader. His Kxe,■limey was appointed patron, j and Titos. Outhwiite, Keq., and Colonel Mould, were ' named as vice-patrons; Mr. James Crawford, trea-j surer; Mr. Sanderson, librarian ; and Mr. Parsons, I 8-'<reb»rv. A sul'M-riptien lilt has been opened tor ; the purj«jso of purchasing the music of the lalo j ■society, and it is intended to raise a sum of £100 for j this purpose. i Tlip City Board is doing its best to effect the per- ' manent improvement of the principal streets in tho j city, but with inadequate means. A bill for amend- ! ing the present Act is now before the Council, and it ; hi sought to allow them to borrow a sum of £20,000, | and it was also fought to increase their power of I taxation to as high a rate a-s '2s. fid. in the pound, | the motion to this efiect, w;ls, however, negatived. j So excessive a. rate would never have been sub- j rnitted to by the citizens, and would defeat | the intentions of those who wish to give the Hoard ! moderately increased powers. Our own opinion is, that. Queen-street, whore the greater part of the ' Boa.'d funds are expended, is part and parcel of tho I Great South road, and as such is rightly a charge | upon the Provincial Government. With" much rea- | son it might, also be, urged that ono half the cost of repairing the remainder of the streets is also a fair j charge upon the province, for it cannot, in any spirit I of fairness be denied that tho inhabitants of the city, j in being the chief source from whence that portion of i this Provincial revenue, known ay three-eights, is j derived, may justly claim to have a largo share of j provincial money expended in their district, the city. 'J he provincial Revenue derived from Iho sale of ! he Waste Lands of the province may be said, perhaps, to be peculiarly the property of the country districts —but from the general revenue three-eighths is returned to the provinces by the General Government ■ and of tho sum thus returned to the Provincial Government of tho Province of Auckland, by far the largest portion is derived from tho inhabitants of tho city itself. The Auckland Gas Comyany are about to proceed in earnest with their works." Their plant arrived from England in tho ' Bombay,' and tenders liavo been issued for tho erection of a'sea wall in brickfield bay, on the allotment set apart for tho works, to preparo it for tho necessary buildings. Another unfortunate accident occurred at Drury on the loth ; a man of the name of James Montgomery* j was found drowned in the creek. His clothes were j observed lying on tho bank, whore it was thought he ! had gono to bathe, and as no person was neon, search I was made for the body, which was found lying in the j water. Ho was a carpenter by trade, and belonged | to Otahuhu. A verdict of "accidental death" was i subsequently returned bv the jury ou the coroner's ! inquest. j A l'Lrgc baz;iar was held during two successive day 9 [ in tho Brunswick Hall, in behalf of tho buildi'ii- I fund of St. Matthew s Church. Thero was a debt of I some £1500 upon tho building, and towards this no ! less a sum than £050 was raised by the proceeds of | tho bazaar. Of this sum £106 18a. 6d. was taken at the doors, and £.37 lGs. 4d. at tho refreshment stalls i of Mrs. and Miss leaning, and that of Mrs. Gibbs i arid Misses Soppeft and McDonald. Tho six stalls of | lancy goods kept by tho following ladies, realised as | follows: Mrs. .Hobson and Mrs. James Henderson f £166 25.; Mrs. Cadman, £1.06 lis. 2d.; Mrs. O'Neill, £70 13s. fid.; Mrs. John Henderson, .CIS; Mrs!! Horne, £-10; Mrs. Maude, £ys. Total, £050 la. 6d. j From a correspondent at Raglan we learn that this j place, so olten unsettled with flying reports of Maori | alarms, h;is lately been tree from all such irritating j annoyances, although the natives living in the neigh- j bourhood give it as their 'opinion that the war is not ! over yet. These Maoris say that amongst the i prisoners taken at liangiriri, are several of the i Kawltia, Aotea, and Raglan natives, and that ono j amongst them named 'IVpihau, a Kuwhi.a native, of I the tribe of Ngatikiro, w;ls one of the murderers of ' Europeans at the Wairon. The presence of Major j Macgregor, at lutglan, appears to givo confidence to I tho settlers remaining there, as they feel that so long ] 03 he ziuyu they have u. head to lock too, and that { they are etifl under the ©yo and '-ire of tho Govern- :

ment. The ' Wonga Wonga' is spoken of as a groat convenience to the settlement calling in regularly, which our correspondent assures us the ' Storm Bird ' does not. Captain Cellem has never met with any detention on account of the bar, coming in and going out ill the night as freely and easily as in broad da v. It is reported that tho Ngatimaniiipoto tribe j are onlv just commencing in earnest lo oppose tho | progress of the troops, and for this purpose are colI lecting their forces, and building pas at Raugiawhia, i a place not very far from Ngaruawahia. Within tho i last three days 600 bayonets have been stationed at liaglan. A commencement in the. good and holy work of confiscation has been already made at llemuera, near Auckland, the first piece of land confiscated being that of the arch-robel Tamati Ngapora; at- Remuera, and which was leased to and in the occupation of Mr. Cheeseman. The Government has now claimed possession, and Mr. Chcestman. wo believe, considering himself entitled to compensation lor improvements has put in a claim, which is, we hear to be satisfactorily settled by arbitration. The colony is quite satisfied to leave these matters in the hands of the present government, resting satisfied that the interests of the country and those of tho Maoris themselves will be fairly carried out by removing from them cause of all their troubles, quarrels, and jealousies,— their lands, —providing of course sufficiently extensive reserves for tho. present native population, which is fast wearing out. A very strange occurrence took place here on the evening of tho !7th inst., in tho camping ground of tho Land Transport Service, which was as follows : — Serjeant Major Lees belonging to that corps occupied a wliare where ho and hie wife ami family lived, a man named Tlenrv Boanlman also lived with him its hutsman. On that evening they had tea together as usual, tho Serjeant Major then left for duty, the prisoner had attempted to tike liberties with Mrs. Leo, and having been repulsed, had gone away, and returned again with a rifle. He then pushed the door forcibly or,en. and discharged the rifle at her, fortunately sending the ball through tho side of the house. Mrs. Lees bad one child in her arms, and another at her side ; tho noise brought to her assistance Sirs. Fowler, wife of Serjeant Fowler, who occupied tho house adjoining. The man was stayed from a second attempt, for which he had again loaded bis riile. Corporal Reilly, who was on guard, was called to the spot, and took the prisoner at the point of the bayonet.. He was placed in custody, and yesterday brought before Charles Melsop, Esq., J.P., and information was laid charging him with the foul deed. He was fully committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supremo Court in Auckland, and Serjeant I.ees and the various witnesses were bound over under recognizance to prosecute. Tho mail pleaded guilty to the act, but. afterwards made a statement to the court. He said that he did not mean to harm Mrs. l/cos. The want of discipline which prevails in the local militia forces, is becoming painfully apparent in the number of crimes committed by the men, crimes which would have been put down by the "Iron Duke " with tho " platoon "or tho " cat." A special Magistrates' Court was lately held at Papal: ura, when a caso of theft was tried in a summary way, against a private of the Waikato Militia, for ste;.'ing books and a fowl from a settler of the name of Johnston, at tho Wairoa. Tho prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Another of those dangerous freaks which so frequently take place amongst armed drunken men, occurred lately, when three men of the Waikato Militia were on their way from Rhodes' Clearing to l'apakura. They had got some distance past Drury, when they quarrelled amongst themselves, imd to settle disputes, determined to try the effectual way of shoot'.ng at one another. They had exchanged some eight or ten shots, when a gentleman, oil his way to Drury, interfered, and succeeded in putting an cud to the dispute. An escort which arrived from Auckland took the parties prisoners, and gave them over to the camp authorities here. It would be well to put. a stop to men carrying their rifles with them whilst <m pass, as many cases of the improper use oi' them have orcurrod. Speaking of the depredations committed by these men on tho deserted properties of the settlers, our Drurv correspondent writes:— " We turned our attention to my dwelling house ; -,d

ground. The most wanton destruction there presented itself tons in every imaginable way. Windows were smashed in, sticks were sent through the roof of a detached kitchen, A:c., and a great deal of fresh mischief done Unit. I had not seen w hen on a Hying visit some ion days ago. My neighbour and self then turned to his house, and the same scenes presented themselves to us iu various ways. We returned to Drury much disheartened anil dispirited, and reported the ciraimslance to the officer in command, who received us most courteously, and in sypathising terms, with the assurance that he would put a stop to such doings." U.tr correspondent writing from the Wairoa on the 2'lnl hist., says:—"lt is only a few weeks since a man named Tnivers was tried, mid sentenced to three years' penal servitude, at the Supreme Court, Auckland, for wilfully aiming nt two other men, with intent to kill. I believe soldiers anil volunteers are allowed !<> carry their arms with them on pass. ] fear, if this is not put a stop to, there may be some dreadful occurrences taking place. Robert Mel 'i:l----lock, belonging to this locality, was mowing grass in Mr. Stem's garden. As the afternoon was approaching, a corporal, named Trott, belonging to Ihe 2nd Waikato Militia, who is at present stationed at the Galloway Redoubt, entered the garden, and abruptly asked for a drink. As MeCullock bail no vessel fur drinking out of, nor any water in the garden, it was impossible to comply with his request. The pii.-oner then entered Mr. .Steel's house, and immenced smashing the glass wrecking everything he could get hold of in the house. MeCullock, who was still in the garden, on hearing the noise, was about to drop his scythe, and ascertain what, war, the matter, when, stooping down, he heard the report of a rille, which was discharged from the house, and the bail whizzing close past bis head. lie then saw two officers on horseback, on their way to the Galloway Redoubt, to whom he reported what the prisoner had done. Une of tho officers, Lieut. Lomax, Ist Waikato Regiment of Militia, dismounted, with (ho intention of taking Trott. into custody. lie, accompanied MeCullock to the spot where the offender was, and ordered him to surrender. Trott then capped his rille, and levelled at tho officer several times, who had no revolver, and was obliged to retreat : but seeing un orderly passing on to the Galloway Redoubt, sent a message for an escort to be sent immediately. In the meantime MeCullock watched the movements of Trott, who eonce;Jed himself in the midst, of some fallen hush. Two civilians, who were passing in the direction of l'apakura, observed liim lying in ambush, and levelling at one of them. '1 hey immediately gallopped oil". Trott's lillo was heard to snap the cap, but did not go oIT. At length the escort arrived from tho Galloway Redoubt, and were ordered to spread apart in skirmishing order. Atter a tew minutes' searching they found him. He made no resistance whatever, and was marched to tho redoubt, W'liere a court of enquiry is to be held to-day. This is a cool attempt at murder, for tho man was not intoxicated (so McCullock says), hut walked steady, anil with firm pace. An occurrence somewhat similar happened lately at tho Upper W'iroa Redoubt. A privato of the 70th was charged with stealing some tritle of money from one of his comrades ; ho was accordingly put into the guard tent, and was heard to say that he certainly ■would have the, man's life that informed upon liini. The mail who reported him,, having been cooking opposiio tho guard tent on Friday about. 12 o'clock, at which time the pri.si.mer tried to accomplish his design, by sei/.ing one of the guard's rilios, and tiring at the inan who was stooping over the pot cooking, the ball passed close between his legs, smashing Hie pot in pieces, and lodging in some blankets 'which were lolded up. Some who were standing by had a narrow escape, Die prisoner was only a lew yards distance when he discharged (ho riilo. This is the fourth case of aiming and living, with intent to kill, that has happened within tho last four weeks, but providentially no lives havo been lost." Gn I< riday night ':ho 17th, a heavy thunder storm, accompanied with torrents of rain, passed over this part ot the province. The lightning in two instances took effect, in one case on a house in Freeman's bay, but without doing any serious injury; in another easo ono of the sentries at the Whan block house | baving his rifle on his arm, with the bayonet tixed, (he latter it is supposed attracted the- electric fluid, the man was knocked down insensible, but happily ieco\eieii, the rifle was destroyed, the bayonet being twisted up. Jn Auckland the streets were running ankle deep in water, and that pestilential abomination, the Auckland Supreme Court and Gaol, was laid partially under water, and ran the risk of being washed away, and that too at imminent hazard to hie and lmib. At halt-past 10 o'clock, the ltnhappv mniates v.-ere aroused from slumber bv the interruption of some three feet of elreet washings into their dormitories. The volume of water continued to increase, rising eighteen inches in ten minutes, and bv eleven o'clock being so high that men of six feel stature made their way with difficulty to the gu i:d-

room whilst tliev of minor inches had to swim for it; and in ono rate the individual had to bo pitched on to a shelf. Tho unfortunate females had to bo placed in the oflice formerly occupied by Mr. McEhvam. A child of four years of ago had a very narrow escape it being extremely difficult to rescue him m the dark. Great praise, we aro hnppy to bo told, is dm; to tho officials. Thoy wore cool and collected, using every effort to rescue life from a watery giavo ; aiid '"making sure of their charges at tho saino The approaching national festival of the Auckland Regatta may be oxpooled to Ix 3 a nioro than usually interesting one, if we may judge from tho increased amount, of shipping in our harbour, and the exertions which are about to be made by those who take an interest in the affair. Messrs. Shaw, Savilland Co., the spirited originators of the London and New Zealand Passenger Line, have transmitted to their agents, Messrs. Cruickshank, Smart and Co., a superbly chased silver cup, worth at least iivo and twenty pounds, which they have presented to be run for by that miniature, but numerous squadron of which Auckland is so justly proud—her unequalled cargo boats. Nor is this all; for wo are delighted to learn that, with equal liberality, Messrs. Lewis Brothers, of this city, aro about, to present a very elegant pair of silver skulls which, we presume, are intended to be competed for in an "oars" race. Some time since there was a very sorious complaint alleged against an Auckland merchant, of having supplied short weight- of ballast to a. vessel leaving for England—the ' Ida Zeiglcr,' we believe, and thus endangering, it was alleged, the safety of the ship, os will as giving .short measure for full price. The following letter in reference to this subject has been received by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce:— " Marine Board Office, "Auckland, l!)th November, 1863. " Sir, —Captain Daldv lias handed to me a letter containing resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce, bringing to the notice of tho Marine Board the short delivery of ballast to vessels, and the dangerous consequences likely to ensure from such malpractice. " The Marine Board Act of lij(i3, now under consideration by the Assembly, vests in tho Superintendent the power of licensing and of regulating fares of boats; he will therefore have authority to remedy the evil of which the Chamber so justly complain. " I have, Are., CIIAKLES SHAW, " Masters Warden, Marine Board. "To J. A. Gilfillan, Ksq., " Chairman Chamber of Commerce." The latest subject of excitement has been tho tragedy at Kaipara,—the murders of Mrs. Thompson and her daughter by Ruarangi, a Kaipura native. The full particulars of this affair will be found elsowhore in our present issue. The Prisoner Ruarangi, was brought up before the Resident Magistrate on Tuesday, and on the evidence adduced, committed to take his trial for the murders of Mrs. and Miss Thompson, at the next Criminal Sessions. Iwitaia, was brought before the Resident Magistrate on Wednesday, charged with tho murder of James Droomgould. Two evidences were called when prisoner was remanded. The arrivals from foreign ports consisted of 2 t vessels, of 10,0-17 tons, with 115 passengers, viz : — 7 from Newcastle, N.S.W. ; 5 from Sydney; 2 from Adelaide: from Melbourne; 1 from Hamburgh; 2 from London ; 1 from Rangoon ; 1 from Ilobart Town ; 1 from Lannceston ,'and 1 from Norfolk Island. Tho departures for foreign ports amounted to 23 vessels, of !),9S-t tons, with tiii passengers —8 for Sydney; 0 for Newcastle: 1 for Calcutta; 1 for Bombay; 1 for the South Seas; 1 for California; 1 for Norfolk Island; and 1 for Guam. From the. Southern Provinces of New Zealand there arrived Kt vessels, of l'.Hjli tons, bringing lfil passengers ; the departures Southward wero 1 i vessels, of 101-1 tons, witli 1M pas.-engers. The balance therefore in favour of immigration is 379 souls.