ROTORUA NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8534, 7 April 1891, Page 6

ROTORUA NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Rotorua, Monday. To-day at noon the native visitors, numbering about fifty, belonging to the Ngatikahungungu tribe, of Napier, arrived and were cordially received by theNgatiwhakaue, who mustered strongly in front of the Tamatakapua and presented a tidy appearance. The men were in the majority, and were neatly dressed in white calico garments, their heads being decorated with feathers. They formed themselves into a half-circle and looked somewhat imposing. Just as the visitors arrived a volley from several guns was fired, followed by a tangi, after which speeches and songs of welcome were given by the leading chiefs. It is the intention of the natives here to entertain their guests in the best possible manner, and they are determined to show a Rood example, notices having been put up warning all against over indulgence in beer, none of which is to be brought within a certain radius duly defined. The feasting will form a large part of the programme. Pigs and bullocks were freely slaughtered yesterday for the occasion, and there are still more to follow. Numerous presents in money and goods will be made, so that altogether the visitors will have a merry and profitable time whilst here. The proceedings to-day were eagerly watched by many Europeans, who took great interest in the affair.

The native named Wharckiwi Pohoroa. who was sent to the Auckland Hospital recently, suffering from a wound in the arm, which the doctors deemed advisable to amputate, to save the patient's life, hut who declined to have it done, arrived here last Tuesday. Since then he has been daily visited by Dr. Cinders, who has ordered him to be kept in a tent, where he is receiving the best attention from his friends, and is eating and sleeping well, without as yet any bad symptoms being experienced, so that it is possible he may pull through. If so, it will be useless on any future occasion to propose amputation on any native from this district, it matters not how serious the case may be. Mr. Malfroy, according to instructions from Wellington, is to-day busily engaged collecting from each of the proprietors of hotels and boardinghouses the number of visitors to their respective establishments during the past year. The information should prove highly interesting, as showing the value of the tourist traffic. Statistics of this kind have never been taken before.

The Native Land Court was adjourned on Saturday last till the 22nd inst., when fresh lot of cases are advertised to be heard. One of them, on account of certain circumstances surrounding it, is likely to prove of more than ordinary interest. The land in question is Utanga No. 9, and is part of that on which Lake House stands, and belonged to the late Niremona Pini, who made a will in favour of the European who still holds possession, and would probably have continued to do so had the decision by the Court of Appeal in a similar case, Robertson v. Wilson and another, not declared that native grants of land in this district in favour of Europeans is invalid and contrary to law. on account of the Thermal Springs Act. Judge Wilson and staff left by coach en route foe Auckland to-day. Mr. W. Kelly has leased his sawmill at Rotoiti to Mr. R. Curtis, who will carry it on as usual on his own account. Mr. J. Kelly, the present manager, will proceed to Whakatane shortly to take over the management of his brother's llaxmill there, which lias just been set going, and is turning out a good article. Fresh cases of narrow escapes from scalding in the vicinity of the Kirirau Springs are reported, so that it behoves the Town Board to take steps at once to have this dangerous spot fenced in. When taking the census yesterday it was pointed out how defective the present forms are as not specifying the place , from which visitors come. There are several here just now on a visit from other parts of New Zealand, but there is nothing to show where they hail from. ' #: Mr. W. Kelly, M.H.R., left for Auckland via Oxford to-day. ; iL . Jw- ' '' ■