New Zealand Procinces.

Otago Witness, Issue 497, 8 June 1861, Page 10

New Zealand Procinces.

From the papers received by the " Prince Alfred" and " Lord Ashley" we subjoin the following intelligence from the various Provinces :—: — CANTERBURY. EIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH. (From the Standard, May 30.) On Thursday morning last, about 2 a.m., the inhabitants of this town were alarmed by the cry of " Fire," which proved to be raging in the premises lately occupied by Messrs. Packer and Son, now let to Mr. Willmer, who is conducting the business of the Albion ,Brewery. As- far as we have yet been able to ascertain, the fire originated at the. malt kiln, ■which was left burning, by the man in charge (asr usual) about 5 p.m. The alarm was given from an adjoining house, and the brigade was quickly on the spot with the engine of the Liverpool and London | Insurance Company. Considerable delay, however, took place before a proper supply of water could be -obtained ; the public pump opposite Mr. Olliver's offices being very inefficient,.and by the time the engine had commenced working, the fire had gained so much upon the private house connected with the "brewery, as to render all attempts at saving that property useless. By the exertions of his Honor the Superintendent, and the Resident Magistrate, a considerable crowd of spectators was formed into a chain to pass buckets from the river to the engine. In- spite, however, of the strenuous efforts of the Brigade and assistants, the adjoining premises of Messrs. Stringer and Co., were soon in flames, and with the exception of a portion of the stock on the gronnd floor, which they succeeded in remov- . ing, everything waa destroyed. , In a short time it was discovered that the adjoining shops of Mr. Mills, tailor, and Mr. Kerr, grocer, were on fire at the back, and though the greatest exertions were made, they were soon . enveloped in flames. A small fire engine, the property of Mr. E. Recce, was put to work at the back of houses then burning, and succeeded in preventing the fire spreading in that direction, whereby much valuable property was saved. It was seen that nothing but pulling down ' Mr. Barnard's store woujd arrest the flames or prevent the total' destruction of the whole line ,of Cashel-street, including ' the valuable and "newly built Hotel, the property of Mr. J. Mann. Acting therefore under the direction of his Honor and the Resident Magistrate — the studs were soon cut away, and a rope having been passed round the building, it was pulled over and demolished ; the engines then played upon the walls of Mr. Mann's Hotel, which had been covered with wet blankets, . and after a considerable time had elapsed their efforts were crowned with success. Considerable apprehension was at one time evinced that the nouses on the opposite side of the street would take fire, and the heat was so great-asto make the passage down the street most- difficult. -Whilst desiring to testify to the alacrity with which nearly. all those present went to . work,;,we cannot help reflecting upon a few who wanted payment for their services, and .declined to assist in saving their felllow-colo-. nisi's property. Such men should be held up tb"publie contempt, and we should have great ' pleasure in exposing them could their names be ascertained. A fire like this in our community is a public calamity, and every true colonist is but too happy to render his services for its suppression. " The losses sustained are computed at about ■£5000, exclusive of amounts insured in the Liverpool and -London and the Northern Insurance Company, the amounts are as follows :—: — .Messrs. Packer and Son, insured to £1000 ; total loss ,£2OOO ; ; Mr t Willmer, uninsured, £700. * - "Messrs. Stringer and Co., insured, £2000 ; total loss estimated £4000. Mills, uninsured, estimated £150. - Mr. Kerr, insured £300 ; total loss £400. Mr. Clarkson, insured, £300. Mr. Barnard, uninsured, £300. We regret to announce that Mr. E. Recce, who kindly placed at the disposal of the public .his stock /bf American a*es and buckets, has suffered considerable loss from the large numrber that have not yet been returned to him ; this is a matter that should be enquired into —we remember hearing at the time of the fire . at therWesleyan Chapel that a large number , of buckets ,were never returned to their owners. Pilfering of this kind should if detected be .severely punished, tending as it does to fender people chary of lending their goods when required on an emergency of this Kind. We cannot conclude this notice without calling the attention of the public to the great ■■ necessity that existe for -public pumps from whence a sufficient and immediate supply of _ -water • could be obtained in case of fire. We \ have it or the authority of several who were ■ on the spot at the first alarm that had an immediate supply o t f ,w ; ate,r been at hand the fire ~ would have been confined, to^ the Malt House. The Qovernment should be memorialized upon ibis subject. - ~'We*are glad to hear that some of our towns.njen are getting up a subscription for Mr. Miflsi r who has lost everything he possessed. ' ' was held on Saturday .before the sCororier and a respectable jury, at the White Hart Hotel, whepJhejury returned a verdict of the fire being purely " Accidental." FtOOD IN.IiYTTLETON. . The Times of the 29th ult. t gives the followi ing .particulars of the damage done by the > flood which occurred last week in Lyttleton : — 5 T&e 'wet weather, which has lasted now for mdrey than ten days,- came to what .seems a climax* though by no means a termination, on - 'night and yesterday morning, w.hen an, unusually heavy downfall of rain so added ;to Jt^e streams by which Lyttleton is drained, ;. asjtbVfeausfe; the flooding of the gullies or nat ural watercourses, and the consequent destruc■t $lij?&|s&sft ns #enible quantity of property of winch? the overflowing water chanced : lo^ntfoifnfeV ;, j which runs parallel Oiford-street, a great number. 'of * n hoageMretyrilt,- : and here the. greatest amount At Perry's forge, at ; tHe corner^df: 1 Winchester -street, the floor was ;i btirstiin from below; 4^d the chimney, bellows, \ tfmyiiljiandltools, j. togei§4r with a quantity lof and;:gcj&r, of all.ki|ids, were HS^^^^af^E^f'&f' together-? into.; i the ; . gulley. A :?M*l§ wjft^taf>fe at the rear-waswitb^difficulty t standing immersed in water "to p||^^j|^:AJßhortrdistance off, a chimney of

a new house now being built by Capt. Sproul was washed down. Lower down the same watercourse, Child's smithy received severe damage at the rear, the bank breaking away with a quantity of iron, while the works in hand and the tools were submerged. Further on the water accumulated as it went, and its course was more impeded by the wrecks of closets, pig-sties, and other buildings washed away above. The culvert in London-street formed a barrier as usual, and suffered again as it has done before; save that the last damage not having been repaired, there wag on this occasion less to destroy. Mr. Mason's store and dwelling house, close b)', was inundated, and the furniture and a quantity of flour spoiled, in all to a considerable value. The watercourse just below this point receives an accession of strength from the drainage of the hill on the east, and from other sources. Messrs. Fox and Co.'s brick foundations of their new shop were destroyed, but greater damage still was done further down. The entrance of the culvert below this office became choked, and the water rose to the height of many feet above it, forming a miniature lake beneath Messrs. Campbell and Co 's store, and flowing into the press and machine rooms of this establishment, which being on the lower floor, were flooded ahout four feet deep, and every article therein soaked and covered with many inches of slime. A quantity of paper of some value was injured, the working of the presses and machine stopped, and the operations of the staff engaged on the establishment of course seriously impeded ; though by their activity and the help of several friends the rooms were emptied of water and cleared of mud before the end of the day.

Still more serious damage was done at Mr. Olson's, Canterbury Hotel. The cellars, containing stores of all kinds, were not only flooded, but burst through in every direction, and the lower rooms deluged by the torrent. Here some hundreds of pounds worth of goods and property of all kinds were not only damaged but in many cases swept away entirely and irrecoverably. The same watercourse ended its mischief by entering some of the Custom-hodse rooms, after which it escaped to sea. Part of the overflow, however, from the London-street culvert running in a >resterly direction, was conducted towards the shop of Messrs. Cameron, Brothers, on Norwich Quay. Here a quantity of very valuable drapery goods had been stored on the lower shelves and under the counters ; the water, bursting open the back door, entered the house, swamped the dwelling rooms, and poured into the shop in a flood half as high as the counter. The catalogue of mischief done here is immense, and Messrs. Cameron must be considered nearly, if not altogether, the greatest sufferers of the day.

Between the eastern and western watercourses several smaller ones intervene. One of these, which passes under the angle of London and Canterbury-streets, flooded the lower rooms of Mr. Collier's Albion Hotel, and destroyed much valuable furniture.

The western watercourse (Salt's gulley) damaged tlie new culvert at the extreme of London street, swept ovei Mr. Latter's paddock and the Bank garden, flowed into the bank itself to the great damage of the furniture, and destroyed a considerable portion of the roadway between the Bauk and Messrs. Miles and Co.'s store. *

These are the chief features of the damage done ; the catalogue of minor disasters is immense, and we altogether forbear to mention the sad effect produced upon the roads, drains, culverts, bridges, and paths of the town. The damage done to private property cannot" be estimated at less than £2000, and the injury to public property at least at half that amount.

It is said by old residents that eleven years ago, before the settlement of the place, there was- a somewhat similar flood in Lyttleton, but it had then not so much damage in its power to commit. This flood, which was at its worst between six o'clock and half-past seven on Tuesday morning, will not readily be forgotten. We trust that efforts will be made by the Municipal Council, if that body be called into^ existence, to Bee that culverts are made of a proper size and construction to carry off any water that may fell, that so the risk of floods, which ought not to exist in a town situated as Lyttleton is, may be entirely obviated.

NELSON. Theßullrii GoldFibld. — The total quantity of gold brought up to Collingwood, procured in three weeks by five natives, has been 52 ounces, which they obtained chiefly by fossicking wiih their knives, about 25 miles up the Buller river. Several natives as well as Europeans have left the Aorerc for this new field ; but the road is a very rough one, and the distance from supplies is so great that it seems little short of madness in any one hazarding a journey thereat this season of the year. But nevertheless, so bent are some of ou^ adventurous diggers in trying their luck at this new field, that they have arranged with Captain Walker, of the " Supply," to make a trip to the Buller, in about a fortnight, with provisions for them.

Wangapeka. — Small quantities of gold are beginning to arrive in town from these promising diggings, and reports of successes there are every day reaching us. There are now from 250 to 300 men employed there, and the number is daily increasing. A sum of £3000 has been voted by the Council to make a new road to .the district, but as this will necessarily be"a work of some little time, a resolution was passed calling on the Government to improve, in the meantime, the road by the Wai-iti valley and Bnidge's gully to the head of Ray's valley, which, although of greater length than the road now making and that in contemplation, has the advantage of being easily kept in repair during {he ensuing winter, when roads newly formed through wooded districts will necessarily cut up dreadfully if there is any amount of traffic upon them.

WELLINGTON. The eighth session of the Provincial Council was opened on the 20th May, by lm Honor the Superintendent, on which occasion he delivered a long address, which occupied forty minutes in the delivery. In the course of his address he enumerated the various sums placed on the Estimates for public objects, among which were :—": — " For Steam Subsidy, ,£1250 ; . Education, £G00; for Ferries, Explorations, and other undertakings, £560. Without specifying smaller appropriations I may state that the proposed expenditure on Public Works is in round numbers, on Bridges £7800 — on Roads £12,000— 0n Buildings, Wharf and reclaiming Land £28,000 — on Surveys, Steam, &c., £5300 — making a total expenditure on Public Works and Undertakings of £53,100, an amount much greater than you can possibly expend during the current year." The Spectator, in noticing the various topics of the speech, refers to the state of the revenue and expenditure of the current year, and informs us that " the total amount of expendi-tm-c for the year is estimated at £77,926, of which it is jirotiosed to expend £53,100 on ' public woi ks iind undertakings. The estimated revenue is £92,720, but this amount includes £10,000 in the shape of interest from Hawke's Bay, aiul a sum of £17,000 as a refund from the General Government of a proportion (l-6th) of the Land Fund retained by them for the last three years." — Examiner, May 25.

WANGANUI. ( (From the Wanganui Chronicle, May t 18.) Thjs Kingi, of £utiki, : has receiyeda let^e? from Johji WilliariwYa '^iitiki ,<?Jupf) 4ated y 4upklaud/ 20rd Xpril,*jin,whi,(;h he states that the" Rev. Mr. Bnrftfwes, CHurich missionary, was about to visit the Waikatos

with the terms offered them by the Governor, one of which was the giving up of the King movement. If they did not agree to these terms, Mr. Burrowes was to bid them good bye on the part of the bishops and clergymen — a phrase which the natives here understand to imply that war would "immediately commence.

The Natives. — A meeting of the river natives was held last week, at Utapu; about 800 were present, among whom were sonic of the Ngatiawa natives from Waitara. The feeling, so far as Wanganui is concerned, is friendly, as it always has been, and the Waikatos are desirous that this friendship should continue; but there was a strong expression of feeling in favour of the King movement, and a King flag would have been hoisted had it not been for the indecision of the chiefs Topine, Pehi, and Ilore Patene, who have not yet made up their minds to such a step. They declared, however, that if war began at Waikato, they would assist, and that natives would proceed to it from all parts of the island. There was no wish, however, on their part for any quarrel; their King and the Pakeha's Queen might live together in peace : and this they illustrated symbolically by three sticks stuck in the ground, representing the Queen, the King, and Christianity (the last in the centre) tied together with a cord. It appears that a chief named Anaru has given over his land at Pukerangiora to Hapurona, who has sold itto the Governor. Of this transaction they expressed disapproval very strongly, and threatened to hang Hapurona for it when he fell into their hands.

The King has now four regular mails from his headquarters throughout the island, each of which receives <£30 a-year and'6d. a letter. One comes down the Wanganui, another down the Rangitikei, a third goes to Ahuriri, and a fourth northwards, towards the Bay of Plenty. The last mail brought down a letter of some importance to the west coast and Wairarapa natives.

The Taranaki and Ngatiraauui do not accept the Governoi''s terms, but are to hold a meeting in a fortnight, to discuss the King question, the holding of land, and the returning the £500) received by the Waitotarie3 in part payment of their land. The Waikatos were to have a meeting yesterday at Ngaruawahia. The natives assert that Wm. Naylor of Whaingaroa has joined the King party. He has hitherto been one of the staunchest Government men.

The Militia. — This force has been dismissed from duty, in order that it may be reenrolled under the regulations of -the new Act.

General Cameron is, we believe, expected here soon.

PRESENT STATE OF TARANAKI. ("From the Wellington Independent, May 24.) The visit of Mr. Parris to the Southern 'natives has not yet been followed by any definite result. On the day previous to his arrival at Tauamoua, a large meeting had been held at Kapoaiaia, at which men from all the Taranaki hapu were present. The Warea men took the toxic of Ngatiruanui, refused to allow mails or travellers to pass or to accept any terras. W. Kitigi Matakatea, Umuroa, whose place is south of Warea, left the meeting in disgust at this conduct, as did the Ngamahanga. The Umuroa people talk of leaving their kainga for the northern part of the Taranaki district. Umuroa lying unpleasantly between the Ngatiruanui tribe and the Warea men, both hostile. W. Kingi Matakafea is very anxious for a settlement with the Government. The Ngamahantga form a considerable section of Taranaki. They will be at Moturoa on Monday when the terms will be presented for signature, and some more definite notion arrived at as to. the influence of their party. The chief at Warea is desirous of peace, but asks for it on the old 'terms of no concession.

The Warca natives have written tp Mr. Hiemensclmeider, their missionary, not to return, the war is not yet ended ; others of the tribe had invited him to come back.

Last Saturday and Sunday the rivers were flooded higher than has been known since 1843. A bridge near the Union Mill was washed away, and the footbridge near the Taranaki Inn was under water and displaced. The water was high in the cellars and outbuildings of the Masonic Hotel.

(From our oivn Correspondent)

May 6, 1861. In my last I noticed that some of the friendly natives had gone back into the bush clearings and helped themselves to the various live stock of the settlers still remaining on the forsaken farms, since which representation of the unjustnes3 of acting in this manner has been made to the leading chiefs, and the result has been that the natives have confessed their error, and moreover have subscribed amongst themselves the sum of six pounds six shillings and pence, which had. been given over to the Native department as payment for t,he pigs, &c, they were taken. The money lam happy to state is to be returned to the natives with an expression of satisfaction at the acknowledgment of the error coupled with a warning for the future.

On Saturday last a public meeting was held at Taranaki for tho purpose of nominating a Committee to open a correspondence with the English and other relief finads that have been commenced for the ruined settlers of this Province. The object of the proposed committee was not to find fault or cast doubt upon those who had been in power, but simply to show those who had so kindly come forward to our assistance, our present position and future prospects. It appeared the unanimous opinion of those present, that whilst the inhabitants of the Province were recipients of military pay, assistance from the relief funds would not be requisite, but that there was a time coming when wp shall once again return to our farms, and then pecuniary assistance will be most acceptable. How anxious one and all are to enjoy once again their homesteads is evinced by the readiness with which, on permission being granted* tho refugees returned from Nelsonj and, I feel certain so long as we act together 111 unity, assistance towards replacing us in our former position Avill not be wanting.

There is no doubt that at some distant period from this, Government compensation will be given to the losers of property during this war. In the meantime by the kind assistance of those who have voluntarily come forward to our aid we shall be enabled so soon as peace is declared to rebuild our houses and erect fencing on our farms.

During this last week we have experienced the most inclement weather — for upwards of three days the rain has fallen in torrents equal to those of the Tropics, causing the floods to rise higher than they have been known for years, whilst the winds have been so powerful that trees of long standing have been either broken or swept to the ground. In a sanitary point of view the lute floods have been of great benefit, as any accumulation of filth must have been carried into the sea by the rapidly flowing current..

Taranaki, May 15, 1861.

As a recompense for the heavy rains and accompanying floods, we have for the last ten days been in the full enjoyment of the most beautiful weather, our picturesque roadstead remaining calm with scarcely a ripple to disturb its glassy surface.

We are now daily drilled by the Officer Commanding the Militia and Volunteers in order to fit us for taking part in the grand military show on the 24th of this month, in honour of her Majesty's natal day. The colours, which have been woven in- England, are to be presented to us by the Ladies of Taranaki. They are ' chaste and prft'tty, bqth having embroidered upon them a .view of

Mount Egmont enclosed within a double ova* border containing the words on one, the " Taranaki Militia," and upon the other, the "Taranaki Volunteers," surmounted with a crown in gold, whilst in the corner of the flag is a Union Jack. Notwithstanding theaegrand colours, our uniforms will present such a varied hue that I doubt very much if our old friend Falstaff would feel inclined to march through Coventry with us. It strikes me that most of Ui instead of thus wasting our time in playinpj at soldiers, would far sooner be engaged in taking some determined steps that would enaLle us to demand from the Southern natives a permanuit and honourable peace, co that we could once ajain settle upon our homes. The thistles arc now spi*eading so far that in another year we shall almost be placed in a worse position than those settlers who acted as the pioneers in redeeming that wilderness which but a year ago formed the garden of New Zealand. But this is not all the mischief that is engendered by the present inaction, the younger branches of our community are becoming reckless and idle, whilst the stovekeepers and publicans by obtaining substitutes are introducing amongst our former industrious population a class of persons utterly unfitted for obtaining a living by following agricultural pursuits which with few exceptions oners the only legitimate means in Taranaki.

Yesterday (May 14), the Ngalaruanuis and Taranakis met Mr. Parris at Moturoa, when the peace question was discussed. The chief subject was that of the murders. The natives deny that murder has been committed ; they say that we shed the first blood in our attack on the L Pah. Another report is that Wi Kingi is about to return to the Waitara with some few hundreds of the Waikatos. Although we have no authentic account of such a movement, still there is a probability (if an occurrence of the kind, and it will be as well for us if we prepare ourselves so as to be in readiness if required. Many examples of byegone days loom forth a3 warnings.

The state of affairs at Taranaki are unchanged. The Ngatiruanui ana Taranaki tribes still continued to refuse the terms of peace offered them by his Excellency the Governor. The settlers are not well pleased with his Excellency's proceedings, and many of them feel that he has "let them spill their blood, and risk the labour of 20 years on a wool gathering expedition, to come shorn by his own hands." During his Excellency's last visit, he met with a very cold reception ; not a hat was lifted, not a single cheer was given.

The whole of the rebel prisoners had been released, with the exception of ''Big Joe' 1 who broke out of gaol, and made his escape.

Sickness is prevalent, principally diptheria, and many) deaths had taken place.

Fifteen months of strife, turmoil, and anxiety, have to all appearance left the Native question, which has so long 1 agitated this Province and the Colony, in the same perplexed titate as of old; and the prospect of permanent quiot apparently quite as far removed, as when the firdt shot was fired against the L pah at Waitara in March last. But in our own situation we are constrained to recognise vast changes. — A fruitful and pleasant Province laid waste, and a happ) r population scattered abroad ; and that all the sacrifices and sufferings undergone have not up to the present day brought about much improvement. Security and a more healthy understanding with the race with whom our lot is cast, seems as far off now as ever. At the commencement of this struggle we had only a small band of savages opposed to us, now it may be said that the bulk of the native population await only the fiat of the Northern tribes to renew the contest at all points. We do not desire to enter upon the causes of the' necessity for sustaining the sovereign power in these islands by force of arms. Or what errors of omission or commission on the part, of our military commanders) have left the work of wholesome subjection in the present unfinished state. Our Wanganui contemporary, the Chronicle, giving the Governor all credit for good intention towards the Colony, would throw the weight of the present troubles on the Government of the Colony, this question has been argued threadbare and at length both in the Colony and in the Home country, the blame has been placed on the right shoulders, both have alike determined to whom they are indebted for the main causes which provoked this Hmcntablc struggle, the agreement upon the identity is perfect, and they are not likely soon to forget the obligation.

The information from the north and south which we gave last week from the journals is, it is to be feared, only too correct, and this week it receives confirmation from events occurring nearer to our doors. It is now certain that not only do the Ngatiruanui scout all offers of peace, and stand prepared for as much further aggression as their compatriots in the north will back them in, but that the Taranakis, from whom better things were expected, also decline to enter upon the consideration of the terms of peace proposed by the Governor. We had been in some measure prepared for this conclusion by the result of Mr. Puma's visit to the southern districts, nor is the result of much consequence except as showing perhaps the power of constraining belonging to the dominant party. On Tuesday Mr. Parris had another interview with the Ngamahanga people, who according to their promise came up to the number of thirty to see him. They were considered to be anxious for a settlement; but after a lengthened discussion he could only bring them to an acknowledgement that they desh'ed peace — the conditions by Avhich it was to be arrived at they would not enter upon, they said they would go clown and try and bring others to their way of thinking, and that then it would be time enough to agree to the conditions. The subteriuge was treated a 8 it deserved 5 they were told that their proposition could not be entertained, and that they had better go home again. The leniency shown by the Government in tendering terms of peace to them, whether having its origin in humane consideration, or a policy unavoidable in the circumstances — which latter we believe to have been the case— is construed, if not as a sign of weakness, at best as showing so strong a desire for peace that they think they can trade upon it with impunity; and, unfortunately, all the past justifies this conclusion. To disgorge their plunder, or to make amends, is no doubt unpalatable, and they do not feel the necessity ; they would withhold all reparation and would like to keep upon amicable terms as long as it suits them with both parties, committing themselves with neither. We have heard that they since scut to Mr. Parris to see him again. This, of course, simply indicates persevering to an end, although it may alse be taken as showing how vulnerable they consider their position to the pressure which they know to be possible and may probably anticipate. Our v principal object in drawing attention to this subject is to show how especially the present situation of the place demands the serious consideration of the local Government, and every member of the community, regarding the prospects and opportunities before us during the next 18 months. ! The scattered population are fast — may it not be prematurely^-retuming to the settlement; yet every week that passes seems but to bring about some change of situation calculated to diminish our relinnce on the hopes of quiet which most of us have of late indulged in. Present appearances are anything but reassuring, and it will be wise to exercise as much mistrust of the future as should make us alive to the imperative necessity of using every precaution to. ensure the utmost production consistent with safety- and limited spaqe, and as far as possible prevent the evils' attendant upon scarcity, whatever emergenciesroay oyerr take us.

1 AUCKLAND. Colonel Sir James Alexander arid the officers of the 2nd Battalion 14th Regt., entertained a numerous party of their friends and the inhabitants of Auckland at the Mechanics' Institute on Thursday evening, May 2. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather the hall was well— indeed we may say brilliantly — thronged. Dancing commenced at 9 and was continued with unabated spirit long after the hours began to look small. The most courteous and considerate attention was manifested by the hosts towards their guests, and, in dispensing their hospitalities, each seemed to vie with the other in taking care that the ladies should not lack partners ; in the general amenities which should distinguish the stewards of a ball room, they left nothing overlooked or to be desired. — New Zealander.

Tun 70th Rkgiriknt — After twelve years of active service in India the gallant 70th Regiment of Foot were despatched to New Zealand by the Indian Government, when the necessity of strong reinforcements to put down the Maori rebels became pressing. They were embarked at Calcutta in three ships — the Daniel Rankin, which arrived on Saturday; the Louisa, signalled in the Rangitoto passage on Sunday ; and the Minden, which left several days after her sister transports and has not yet been heard of. The first detachment, commanded by Captain Oswald Pilling, 311 strong, were landed from the Daniel Rankin yesterday about noon. The men paraded in double column on the Queen-street Pier, and inarched off to the Otahuhu Camp to the music of the band of the 65th Regiment. They are a fine body of men, rather sallow from protracted exposure to an Indian sun, but have the look of trained and resolute soldiers. A few weeks of the bracing air at Otahuhu will restore tone and vigour after the enervating effects of an unhealthy climate and a long sea voyage ; and, from the temper and spirit of the men, we are assured that if led to attack the enemy iv the field they will maintain the honour of their country untarnished, and add another laurel to that chai-let which they so recently won in India, when single handed they disarmed and quelled the mutiny of 15,000 disciplined and disaffected Sepoys, who held possession of the key of Northern India. The men were loudly cheered as they marched from the ship along the pier; and one old soldier from the Pensioner Settlement of llowick, was almost in ecstacies welcoming many of his former companions in arms who still wear the dark facings of the 70th. The Louis, troopship, left the Sand Heads at the same time as the Daniel Rankin, and brings Colonel Trevor Chute, with the head-quarters and band of the regiment. The Minden brings the remainder of the regiment, under the command of the senior officer of the corps, Colonel Thomas James Galloway, and is daily expected.

MrnTMiY Movkmcnts. — The camp at Otahuiiu is in course of completion. The 12th and 14th Regiments marched thei'c at the end of last week ; and the first detachment of the 7oth Regiment, which landed from the Daniel llankin yesterday, marched thither also. The remaining men and officers of this fine corps will, on arrival, proceed to the camp at Otahuhu. At present the men are under canvas, but as soon as possible wooden huts will be erected the better to protect them from the inclemencies of the season. The detachment, temporarily quartered at Potter's Barn, has been removed to the camp. The 65th Regiment will occupy Albert Barracks.

A large shed has been erected outside the barrack wall", containing stalls for 104 Artillery horses, and preparations arc being made for putting up accommodations for the Artillerymen. Large quantities of timber are also required for the soldiers' huts at Otahuhu. In consequence of this great demand, the price of timber is on the rise. Beef and mutton have also risen, best quality of steaks being from Bd. to lOd. per lb.— Register, May 13.