AHURIRI.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 107, 29 October 1858, Page 3

AHURIRI.

The Hawke's Bay Herald of $he 16th instant, Bays:— It is matter of'notoriety that the Customs revenue of Napier is by no means what it ought to he, considering the immense consumption within the district of imported merchandise. Cargo after cargo is landed on our shores without, it may be said, a farthing of revenue accruing therefrom to ■the treasury—the chief, almost the only source of income being the duties upon spirits and other bonded commodities. The cause of this is obvious •enough; all our goods being imported coastwise, the customs, of Wellington and 4-uckland have collected the tonnage and other duties prior to the -articles being transhipped. The remedy for this is twofold—the-first, not •likely to succeed, that of making a claim on tlie Provinces of Wellington and Auckland respectively for the provincial share ofthe revenue so pocketed ; —the second, certainly the most feasible, that of joining together to encourage direct trade with Sydney or, Melbourne, the former generally preferred.

'Our readers will be glad to leara that there is some chance of the latter remedy being applied— •a Wellington firm of large capital having, we are •credibly informed, resolved upon making the arrangements necessary to this effect. If carried out, not only will the pu'blic*treasury be benefitted, but •consumers of goods and shippers of wool, as individuals, may, from the low rates at which goods can be bought and wool shipped in the great Australian port 3, be fairly set down as proportionate gainers. Wairoa.—We are glad to- learn from a gentleman who recently travelled through the Wairoa district, that the native chiefs there, becoming -alive, to the necessity of having a larger European population in the neighborhood, have expressed their desire, as the only means of accomplishing that end, to treat with the government for the sale of land. We trust that ,it may be, andlhat the new province may yet have a good territorial revenue from this fertile and -flourishing district.—? Hawke's Bay Herald^ October 16. Departure of' Troops detachment of the 65th regiment, stationed here becomes diminished this day, by the departure, per Henry, for Auckland, of 18 privates, with women and children. "The strength ofthe detachment1 is now 150, besides officers, sappers, and artillerymen, making in all a few.oyer.l6o.— -Ibid.

The New Native Army w India,-—The following is from the lettdr of a staff officer of _ high rank: —" We are gradually raising a .larger native force than we" had before. Every Station has its levy, all armed with percussion muskets, ' and properly drilled. Ido not think a soul in ~ tht country knows the number of armed natives In our serrice. It is n. sad mistake permitting it. What with police, mounted police; Northwest Provinces police, police rdsullahs, and such like, ■in addition to levies, every civil officer is raising an army of his own, under no control, and it will •end with an enormous armed force, not coming within the provisions of the Mutiny' Act. The civil officers will never give up their power to raise men in this way if it is not soon stopped. I I do hope Sir Colin will protest against it. I , a _ know it is being noticed ; but unless something is '*' "done soon to stop it there will be a difficulty in getting rid of the men, to say nothing of the im- „ policy of turning drilled men adrift at present."— * "Morning Herald.