NAPIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 5

NAPIER.

(prom our own correspondents. \

July 9th.

The chief topio of conversation here for the last few days has been the miraculous escape of Col. Herrick, whilst reconnoitring tho Whakaare pah, on tho ponineula of that name. Col. Herrick was nearly intercepted by two large war canoes, carrying about 100 men each. The moon had not risen, or Her* rick and his half-dozen men must havo fared badly ; tho enemy paised so close to him, that a few yards of space only intervened between Herrick and them. Fortunately, it was very dark. The loss of Herrick would have been a public misfortune. He is very much liked by his men, and was formerly in the Imperial Army. Hehasalwayß been known as a very energotio colonist, and I remember him as a capital bashman. He i* a young man, and has baen a New Zealand settlor for abont 16 yean. The Waikaremoana expedition is to be abandoned, whioh is generally oonsiderod here as a step in the right direction. It has been ascertained that the enemy, so far from having been driven from tho district west of tho lake, as roportod, is in great force, and has fortified himself very strongly in half-a-dozen pahs very difficult to attack. Conversing with tho Ngatiporou chief, Ropata, two days back, he informed mo that he had always objected to tho Waikaremoana expedition on account of the late period at whioh it was undertaken ; that ho would willingly muster a thousand mon at a fitting season, if his views aro approved, and would march at the head of his men through tho TJriwcra oonntry. Ho proposed to raise the men at the East Capo, Taparoa, and Wairoa. I havo no doubt ho could, m tho tribes alluded to are rotated to each other and havo great respect for Ropata. Tho Constabulary at fort Galato* havo for some time boon in a state of mutiny on acoount of pay arrears. By latest advioos affairs had not improved. It appears that provisions aro short in that doaolate region, and a contraction was enforced of rationn whioh tho men allege woro insufficient, whilst working long hours' daily at road making. When nowa reached OaUtoa of tbo resignation of tholat* minuter*, a sop was thrown to the man by th« isiu« of a quarter of a pound

more, biscuit, to them } but it does not appear &> have allayed th 6 spirit of disaffection. The arrival of the paymaster, who is on tlie way, may perhaps produoe a different effect. At Poverty Bay the Land Court is progressing -to a final settlement of the land question. As predicted, mOBt of the Hauhau lands which were presented to the colony by the natives in 1866, through Mr M'Lean, have reverted, undoubtedly through Mr Richmond's mistaken action, - to a mere handful of disloyal and a few friendly natives. Instead of a million acres or so of valuable lands being added to our resources, we shall get 10,000 acres of good, and 30,000 acres of very poor land on the outskirts of Poverty Bay. All the most fertile and easily accessible land is gone through mismanagement. It is some consolation, however, to think that at last the vexed question will be disposed of, I hope for good and all.

At last the remains of the victims who fell in the massacre have been collected, and buried in the cemetery at Makaraka. Some of the remains have not, and never will be, recovered. On Friday, the 2nd instant, the sad ceremony was performed, and* is said to have been an affecting one, from the faot of bo many relatives of the dead being present. The service was read by the Yen. Archdeacon Williams, and a volley was fired over the graves. The 10,000 aores of good land I mentioned as ceded at Poverty Bay are intended for military settlement ; this land is well situated in a central position, commanding several important passes to the interior, notably that of Opotiki. I believe, if the land can be ocoupied, it will ensure the tranquillity of Poverty Bay. Orderlies from Patea report all quiet there. This is not the Patea of tho West Coast, but a district of about 200,000 aores pastoral and agricultural land, west of the Ruahine mountains — that great snow-covered barrier which forms a huge wall-like rampart, averaging 7000 feet in height, and is the western boundary of Hawke's Bay province, throughout its whole extent north and south, and in which only two passes to the West Coast exist, one called the Manawatu Gorge, and the other the Gorge of the Ngarururo. By the latter we reach the Patea alluded to above. This pass has to be guarded, or rather it is watched, by scouts, in order that Tito Kowaru may not come upon the outlying stations of Hawke's Bay like a thief in the night. Some day a road will be made by the Ngarururo Gorge to connect Wanganui and Napier. Its construction would shorten the distance between those two places about 100 miles, and the Patea before spoken of would become a flourishing halfway township station. At presont, we have to go a long way round by tha Manawatu Gorge. A dinner is about to be given to the officers and men of the 18th detachment stationed at Napier. Apart from peouniary considerations, the departure of officers and men will be regretted ; their conduct has been most exemplary ever since their arrival. Two days ago effigies of members of the late Ministry were publicly burned at Waipawa, the second town in this province. At night there were illuminations, fireworks, and bonfires on all the hills around. The same ceremonies aro about to be celebrated at various other townships. Napier will probab y limit its display to fireworks, of whioh a great quantity has been lately consumod. A canvass is going on for subscriptions, in order to get up a display on a largo scale.