OUR HOME LETTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6662, 26 March 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR HOME LETTER

His Excellency Sir William Jervois, our new Governor, has finished his trip through the South Island. He was heartily welcomed wherever he went. His Excellency, in reply to a toast at Dunedin, made a capital speech. Sir William is expected to reach Auckland about three weeks hence, and is sure to be most cordially received by the peoplo of this part of the colony. The Premier, the Hon. F. Whitaker, has during the last few weeks visited tlic chief centres of population in the South Island. He is now on his way to Auckland, where he will have an interview with the Native Minister, Hon. J. .Bryce, in regard to native affairs. Mr. Bryce has been in this district since the end of January. Ho has arranged with the principal owners of land in the King country, that explorations for the route of the main trunk railway shall proceed. The surveyors, who have explored the, country in the ccntre of the island and westward of Lake Taupo, report that no engineering difficulties exist there, and, moreover, that the line will pass through a great deal of fertile country. In regard to native affairs, we have had during the last few days something like a " scare/'but which is likely to turn out all for the best. The surveyor who came through the centre of the island was Mr. C. W. Hursthouse, and on his arrival in Waikato, Mr. Bryce commissioned him to make an exploration by the valley of the Waipa, and the western districts of the island. Tawhiao is still in the southern districts, and the chief power amongst the Kingites is in the hands of Wahanui, chief of It was understood that, at, an interview with the Native Minister, lie had agreed to allow the exploratory survey for the railway to be made. Mr. Hursthouse started on March 12, but when he had got about thirty miles on his journey he was stopped by some natives headed by a well - known obstructive named Te Aporo. Mr. Hursthouse was compelled to turn back. Mr. Bryce then proceeded to Waikato, and had an

interview with the principal Kmgite chiefs, the result of which was that they signed a document pledging themselves to aid the .survey for the railway. On Tuesday, March 20, Mr. Hursthouse left again accompanied by Mr. Newshatu, and by the influential chief Wetere, who has shown every disposition to aid the Europeans. They had also, as an escort, "25 natives of Wctere's tribe. When the party reached a settlement called Te Uira, not far from where Mr. Hursthnuse was first stopped, they were set upon by a large party of natives, headed by a man named Te Mxhuki. Theso natives were Vaikatos who had resided at Parihaka, and who had been sent to their own country when that settlement was broken up. They took the two surveyors prisoners and chained them up in a house. Wetere escaped, and came down to Alexandra. The Native Minister, who was in Auckland, threw the whole responsibility upon Wahanui, who seems to have acted vigorously and in good faith throughout. He at once mustersd u large bodv of men, and sent them off to the rescue. But in the meantime help had come from a most unexpected quarter. Te Kooti, the author of the Poverty Bay massacre, and whose pardon has lately drawn no small amount of obloquy upon the Government, and especially upon the Native Minister, hearing that the Europeans were prisoners and in danger, mustered a force, broke into the place where they were coniined, and released them. Not satisfied with that, he took captive the most prominent, of Mahuki s party. This act vindicates the native policy of the Government in issuing the amnesty, and the censure which Mr. Eryce would have received, will now be turned into praise. It is plain now that no attempt could have been made to explore the King country without dealing with Te Kooti. The settlement of the famed mineral springs district of New Zealand has been delaved, owing to want of rail- j way communication. Invalids and j tourists have at present to submit to , delay in getting there, having to go : from Auckland to Tauranga by steamer, and thence on by coach. The accxnn- i modation too at the hot springs is hardly sufficient to meet the require-' merits of the increasing number of tourists who visit the district. A corn- 1 pany was formed about a year ago to j form a railway (connecting with Auck- j land) by way of the Thames Valley to j the Rotorua or hot springs district. At | the first annual meeting of the com- j pany, held in Auckland on the Sth j instant (Dr. J. L. Campbell in the | chair), a report of the progress of the ,

company's works was submitted. The report stated that the surveys had been completed, and everything was in readiness to call for contracts for the formation of the first section of the line. The lirst instalment of plant has been ordered from England, and is expected here shortly. The Chairman, in moving tiie adoption of the report, referred to the immense benefit the line would confer on the Auckland district and on the colony. He pointed out the benefits medical springs bestowed upon a district, and named as instances the various springs in Germany and Switzerland. The New Zealand thermal springs, it may be added, are far superior to any in Europe. The well known Maori fanatics, Te Whiti and Tohu, after being kept in honourable restraint for a long period, owing to the unsettled and dangerous .state of the natives on the West Coast, were liberated on the 9th March. They were taken back to Opunake, near Parihaka (Te Whiti's village) in the Government steamer Stella. They received a warm reception from the Maoris assembled to meet them, -restrict watch will be kept on Parihaka to prevent large gatherings of natives there. The Hon. Major Atkinson, Colonial Treasurer, is at present visiting the chief towns in the colony, and delivering speeches in each. He had a large audience at Christchurch, His Worship the Mayor occupying the chair. His speeches embraced various political questions. He held two meetings. The subject of his remarks at the second meeting was, " National insurance, or pauperism and its remedy." Major Atkinson will deliver liis next address at Dunedin. It is stated here that three large steamers of 5000 tons each have been ordered by the Shaw, Savill, and

Albion Company from Messrs. W. Bentley and Co., Clyde, to be employed in the New Zealand trade. They will have good passenger accommodation, and will be fitted with refrigerators for carrying meat in large quantities. The New Zealand Shipping Company's barque Mataura is now at Auckland loading, t.nd will shortly sail for London with a cargo of frozen meat. We mentioned in our last summary that what was thought to be a diamond discovery was made recently at Raglan, some 70 or 80 miles from Auckland. A prospecting party went out and brought to town a number of crystals, which, on being tested by fluoric acid, showed that four of the stones were diamonds. The diamonds, however, were of small size, and of little commercial value. This discovery will no doubt have the effect of stimulating prospecting for the most precious of jewels.

At a meeting of the New Zealand University Senate, at Dunedin, on the 9th instant, it was agreed on the motion of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to request the Edinburgh University to grant the same privileges in regard to the study of medicine at the Auckland University as are granted to the Otago University. A resolution axpressing gratification at the establishment of the Auckland University Oollpge was passed. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand began its sittings at St. Andrew's, Auckland, on the 20th ultimo. Representatives were present from all parts of the colony. A considerable amount of business was transacted, and the Assembly was prorogued on the 28th ultimo.