COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4391, 9 December 1875, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

POVERTY BAY. We are labouring under the accusation of be ; ng " the most immoral and degraded community" the Rev. Mr. Smalley has ever been >n. Poverty Bay was never very straightlaced, but com/pared with otlier places of the same extent, the immorality and degradation are not apparent or sensible. Why Mr. Smalley—by-thc-byc, who is the said Smalley, that his utterances should effect us ?—why Mr. Smalley should have taken it into his head to vilify xis I can't imagine. Was he not entertained hospitably while here ? or was the liospitality so abundant as to produce a bilious attack ? For the last day or two the Native Lands Court has been, sitting atMakaraka, about four miles hence, where stands a hotel, and a store, and a The Gisborne people are higl-'y incensed at the removal of the Court thither. The so-called settlement of the Makauri block by the Court has occupied the last three days, but it is said the agreement made between the parties interested has been departed from in many ways to favour Head. The natives have already protested against the issuing of Read's certificate unless some provision is made by the Court to enable them to have free access to their timber. A great kai haukai or feast is given today at Waerengahika, the scene in 1565 of Bauhauism, and fighting, and subsequent devastation. The object of the feast is native hospitality. We have made a move in the matter of the ensuing races; they are to be on the 17th and ISth February, IS7G. The Orlando Cup will then be run for. The Wananga, a Napier or, rather, a Hawke's Bay' paper, published by tho natives, and, by the way, an extremely well got up and interesting paper, devotes considerable space to publishing portions of Mr. Sheehan's speeches in the House, anent the nefarious practices which obtained in Hawke's Bay during certain purchases of native lands ; that was, of course, before the appointment of a Trust Commissioner. If, however, Mr. Sheehan is shocked at what he has discovered there, he should come here; perjury, bribery, personation, &c, being, or, rather, apparently having been, trifles light as air.

OMAHA. Mr. Thompson, lecturer to the Australian Mutual Provident Society, delivered a very instructive and interesting lecture in the school-room, on Thursday evening last, on the advantages to be derived from life assurance. The lecture was listened to with great attention throughout, and at the conclusion Mr. C. A. CJarke proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, wliich -was seconded by Mr. Greenwood. After the lecture, those present goi; up a- dance, interspersed with songs, uui.il near midnight, when they separated, every one seemingly having highly enjoyed themselves. The Rev. E. Tomlinson held divine service here on Sunday evening ; thisis the third time he has paid us a visit, and not long ago the Rev. Mr. Sparling was here, and preached a very eloquent sermon. We are greatly indebted to the Church of England for sending us a minister sometimes, and it is an example that other denominations niight' 7 copy witn' -'advantage to themselves.—[Correspondent, Dec. 7.] ;