HAWKE'S BAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 664, 20 August 1864, Page 18

HAWKE'S BAY.

The Herald of the 7th inst., says :— We are able to write favorably of the pro«pecta of this province. Some time since a pood deal of apprehension existed of a raid on the p*rt of the rebel natives congregated in thfl neighbourhood of Taupo— causing his Honor the Superintendent, whose great experience in native affairs is a guarantee against his having been misled by un founded rumour, to apply to the General Government for a larger military force to be stationed in Napier. Accordingly the head-quarters of the 14th were sent to this province — the additional companies being composed of men who had taken part in the successful charge »t Koheroa, apd subsequently seen service in the JWaikato. Other precautionary measures were taken, in the concmtration of the De fence Force towards the northern portion of the Province, the calling out of the militia and volunteers for an additional course of training, and the enlistment cf a company of military settlers. Fortunately, however, — not unlikely the result of the vigorous measures adopted— no danger has approach* d the Province, which now promises to continue in a state of peace and security. His Honor Judge Johnston, upon the occasion of opening the circuit of the Supreme Court, in Napier, on the Ist inßtant, remarked in his charge to the Grand Jury, upon the signs of progress he saw around him. We have not a full report of his Honor's address, hut he spoke to the following eff'ct : —

" Sitting here for the seventh time, he was glad at seeing the realisation of many of the hopes he expressed upon the occasion of his first visit — happy at the absence and removal of evils which then existed. He saw many signs of social progrfss — progress of the safest and most satisfactory character ; in these respects differing from the progress in one province, where it was attend*! by the evils of wnr, and in other?, where it was attended by the allurements, excite - ment, and anxiety of the search for Budden richness. He could not help seeing an increased respect for general social prnciples — a decidedly improved tone in the condition of society." His Honor also alluded to the increase of population ; and in this respect the province has some cause for gratulation. The passengers by the

Rangoon, upwards of a hundred in number, are general y of a superior class ; and coming as they do in most cases to relatives, or undet engagement to employers, they may be regarded as useful and permanent settlers. Another ship, the Strathallan, was to follow in July for this port direct, with probably an equal number — most of whom will come out under the system of guaranteed passages.

The Provincial Council has been in session since the 28th June- a period of nearly six weeks— and the work on hand is likely to occupy n week or two more. This tession is, we believe, the longest since the formation of {he Province, and a large amount of work has been done. Select committees have been sitting upon a great variety of subjs-cts in coaneetion with the condition and prosperity of the Province ; one subject, in particular, has been gone earnestly into- that of a revision of the Wellington Acts in force prior to sepaiation, and, indeed, etill in force in this Province. Bills have since been brought in, with the view of currying out-the recommendations of the committee. A considerable number of measures have engaged the attention of the Council, not th*j least important of which is one to reappropriate the loan of L 60,000, agreed to in a former session, lhe alterations are of minor im-portance-the principal items remaining nearly the same. The appropriation now stands as tollows :— L30,000 for the purchase of land from thenativps; UO.OOO for immigration; LIOOO for alighthou«e for Napier pou: LSOOO fora bridge over the Ngaruroro; L7OUO for completing tvs main trunk line known «s the Te Aute road ; and L 70(10 for harbor purposes— the last item not to be expended until an opinion has been obtained from a competent authority in Hiigland. Among the bills passed, in addition to the Loan Appropriation Act, is a Highways Act, a Drainage Act, a Sheep and Scab Amendment Act, and a Police Act ; while several others are in different stages of progress. With reference to the item of 1 30,000, appropriated out of the loan for the purchase of native lands, it was stated in the Council by Mr Ormond, one of the members of the Executive, that Mr M'Lean, in his capacity of Native Land Purchase Commissioner, was sanguine of being able shortly to purchase some good land from the native owners. Should this hope be realised, the land will be set aside for agricultural purposes, so as to make the province more attractive as a field for immigration. We trust that Mr M'Lean will he successful in his efforts in this direction ; although in the present state of the native mind, it is almost too much to expect.