Telegraphic Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 930, 25 September 1869, Page 13

Telegraphic Items.

(from our own correspondent.) Wellington, September 20fch. The trial of the Maori prisoners for high treason commenced today. Only one witness was examined in chief, and it is probable that the trial will last all this week. The evidence for the prosecution is very complete. The prosecution is conducted by tho Attorney-General, and the defence by Mr Allan. Mr Travers rofuoad a brief for the defence. The Governor left for Auckland via Wanganui today. September 21st. The Flax Commission ordered by the House of Representatives during the late session of Assembly, has boen appointed. Its members are from various provinces— viz., Mr Graham, Oamaru ; Mr Potts, Mount Herbert ; Mr Duncan M'Arthur, Southland; and Mr M'Farlane, Auckland (chairman). A despatoh has been published, conveying to tho people tho Quoen's warm acknowledgment of the kind reception given by them to the Duko of Edinburgh, and of their hearty and unanimous loyalty to her person and throne. The dospatoh further statoa. that tho Duke was most anxious that the Queen should recognise tho loyal feeling displayed by the colonist* of New Zealand. Mr M'Lean hat resigned tho Superintendoncy of Hawko's Bay, Mr Orroond is gasottod Government Agent on tho East Coast. Mr Reginald Cobb has boon appointed Consul at Ohristohuroh lor tho Italian Go* vernmont. News received from Taupo via Wonganut states that To Kooti attaoVed » pah hold by the friendly ohief Pourou aud 100 m*n, but was repulsed with tho lost of 7 of his followers. September 23rd. Tho trial of tho Maori prisoners for high treason has just been oonoludod. The Judge's summing up, which was strongly against the prisoners, occupied four hours and a half in delivory, and after about a quarter of an hour's deliberation the jury returned a vordiot of

Guilty. Hetariki and Rewi said nothing ' against the sentence, but Matene urged | that the fact that he had fought on the aide of the Government at Kowake, and hat he had been forced to join Te Kooti under paiu of death, should be considered in his favour. The Judge promised to represent the matter to the Governor. The prisoners were then sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. The Judge expressed his regret at being obliged to pass sentenoe in such a form, but assured the prisoners that only the hanging would be carried out. Eighteen of the West Coast prisoners were released from tho hulk City of New castle today, as there was no evidence against them. They have been landed among the local natives.

j Napier, September 20fch. I On the 17th inst., the friendly chiefs Ropata and Kaihau visited Tokangamutu, and conversed with a white man named Jack, who Bhot the Rev. Mr Whitely. This man states that two other white men were also concerned in the murder. On the 16th, some men, while digging a hole for a post in Rolleston street, Shortland, came upon the top of a rich leader. The ground has since been rushed. The alleged Fenian O'Connor has had an interview with Tawhiao. Mr Williamson's supporters are taking active measures to secure his return as Superintendent. News to hand from Sydney, via Auckland, Btates that several satisfactory conferences have been held betwe&n Queensland and Victoria, on the question of fortnightly communication with Europe, via Torres Straits. 661bs of stone from the Pride of Karaka claim at the Thames have yielded 117 ounces of retorted gold. On the 17th, Colonel M'Donnell was fired upon, while proceeding with 30 men to reconnoitre Te Kooti's position. Colonel Herrick and Henare are following Te Kooti, who has gone to Moerangi, having taken large numbers of cattle with him. . Later intelligence states that Te Kooti has since been defeated by Henare, and that he has killed four men belonging to a Waikato hapu because they refused to join him. This act has greatly exasperated the Waikatos, who have applied to the King for permission to fattaok and deßtroy Te Kooti and his people. A scouting party has found out that Te Kooti has retreated to two strongly fortified pahs ten miles from Tokanu. They estimate his strength at 400 men. 250 Wanganui natives are expected to join Henare on Wednesday 'next. September 23rd.

The coach factory in Auckland belonging to the Messrs Quick has been burned J dewn. The loss is estimated at L6OOO, none of which is covered by insurance. O'Connor, tho alleged Fenian, stateß that he ia determined to take legal proceedings against the newspapers for designating him a Fenian. Kemp, with 250 Wanganui natives, arrived at Taupo on Tuesday last. I NEtaow, September 18th. Two conflicting reports have been received here from Auckland respecting a massacre of natives. One report saysj that Te Kooti killed 80 of tho fnendlies— men, women, and children— at Taupo. The i later report is contained in a letter from Raglan, published on tho 14th inst. It states that Kewi with a number of tho Waneanui natives had killed 50 of To Kooti's men, Te Kooti himself escaping. This attack is said to havo been made upon him on account of his aspiring to tho crown. It is not known which of tho reports is true, if either of them is. My private letters say " A great fall has taken place in all Auckland shares, in good and bad claims and companies alike. The market has been 'bulled ' to an awful extent, and hundreds of poor devils have been made easy victims. A [collapse is imminent, or, rather, has already sot in. Do not rely on the published share Hats." Eight hundredweight of stono from Goromandel. on being cruflhod, yielded one ounce of gold. Letters received hero from Taranaki state that rumour* were current thore that gold had boon found in tho Hauhau Rangos. Tho prospeoting parties, however, were ttill out, and no particulars had been received. The Waiter* flax mill hat boon started, and ia expooted to yield ono ton of fibre to four of the aroen flax. The settlors in Taranaki aro preparing 1 for tho high tide to take placo on the 6th Ootobor. The Governor, Mr Fox, and Mr M'Loon are expected to visit Now Plymouth. A quarts reef U reported to hnvo boon discovered nt Ton Milo Crook, near Cobdon, in this provinoo, at a distance of about ono milo from the tea. Several payable rushes aro reported bom tho woit Ooaat, A nugget wotyh-

" ing half ft poondhai been found on the ■ ' September 21st. Mr Curtis, EH.R-, addressed the electors of Nelson last night. The audience was a large one. Mr Curtis defended the proceedings of tfie Station* Government, and took exception to Mr Fox's Native policy, predicting future troubles, and Haying that the present Ml was only the prelude of future disaster. He compared Mr Stafford's expenditura for thirteen months with. Mr Fox's proposed expenditure for the year. In the latter, however, he included the L70,0U0 for the force to be enrolled in Britain, » and which will not be spent this year. He also estimated the probable L 25,000 for troops at L 60,000. t ... The speech was neatly delivered, out an audience never applauded less. Mr , Greenwood, Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Representatives, asked Mr Curtis if the revenue fell short of the expenditure, how it would be made up. , Mr Ourtia, in reply, stated that the Government had obtained ff, 0 ™™ 0 . ■ Treasury bills to the amount of L340,00u in excess of the revenue. Mr Greenwood also proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Curtis for coming forward to address them. His aotion in this matter has been a subject of comment. Mr Redwood's horses, Manuka, - Peeress, and Misfortune, sail for Mel- | bourne in the Omeo tonight. All three look well, Manuka especially being V* . splendid condition. [ Lawrence, September 20th. : A man, who stated that hia name was , Mackenzie, gave himself up to Constable Purdue at Tapanui as the murderer or i "German Charlie" in High street, ■ Dunedin, some years ago. He has been Bent to town today in custody of th« i officer in charge of the Escort. Bluff, September 19th. The s.s. Gothenburg arrived here today •at 2 p.m. She left Melbourne at 2 p.m. E on the 14th, and experienced fine weather during the passage. She will sail for i Dunedin tomorrow night. Passenger List : For Dunedin— Messrs > Bennett, M'Gowd, Brown, and 85 in the > steerage, including 64 Chinese. She also • brings 80 tons of cargo for Dunedin, and I 33 tons for Lyttelton. I September 20th. The following was the result of the • Metropolitan Stakes :— Mr Winch's CirT cassian, 1 ; Mr Ivory's Grey Momua, 2 ; 1 Mr White's Warrior, 3. Time, 3min. 42sec. y New Zealand wheat iB saleable in Melbourne at 6s 9d. Oats are at 4b lOd, and rising. [ Melbourne, September 14th. , Father Niell has been committed for trial, but has been allowed bail. i Kenealy, the pardoned Fenian, sailed - to Adelaide, but was not allowed to land • there. Strong sympathy is expressed for him. Mr Fawkner received a public funeral, thousands being present at it. Mr George Rolfe is a candidate for the seat lately occupied by him in the Assembly. A motion of want of confidence in the j Government comes on for discussion to- , night. The Magistrates have dismissed the j libel case of Dr Jordan v. the Age news- . paper. V Broadstufls are very firm, flour being I atLl7.