LATEST NEWS FEOM THE NORTH.

West Coast Times, Issue 587, 12 August 1867, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FEOM THE NORTH.

THE THAMES G-OLDFIELD,

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

REPORTED MURDER OF FOUR EUROPEANS.

FIRE AT NAPIER.

By the arrival of the s.s. Taranaki last night we (" Wellington Indepent," Aug. 3) have later news from Auckland, and Tauranga. Paul Tuhapre, native member of the Provincial Executive, recently returned from a visit to* the Waikato. Paul did not attempt to open negotiations with the King party. Mr Firth and Mr C. O. Davis had left Auckland for Matamata, to attend the native meeting which is to be held at Peri a. The '• Southern Cross " states that active steps have been taken to open up the Thames District for gold digging. Access can now be had to the Kauaeranga land, but as arrangements have not been , completed with natives, it would, says the " Cross," be useless for Europeans to go down in the meantime. Mr Mackay left town on Tuesday morning with Taipari for Kauaeranga, to made arrangements to open up the district. Should he consider it necessary, he willengage an experienced number of miners to prospect on the part of the Government. The " Cross " thinks it highly probable that a payable goldfield has been discovered. A considerable number of persons had started from Auckland for Kauaeranga in open boats. It was feared the proceedings of those people might cause a collision with the natives. The Auckland people were rather excited, as at a public meeting some of the speakers were for rushing the place and the Maoris at once. The " Herald' 1 states that the washing of two loads dirt produced three pennyweights.

A still has been seized near the Whau Blockhouse in full working order. Several kegs of spirits were also found. The " Herald " of the 29th ult. says that* native letter had been received by a gentleman in Auckland, stating that when the s.s. Taranaki left Tauranga it was there reported that a party of nine, composed of five European and four natives, while on their way from Napier to Taupo with cattle, had been intercepted and murdered by a band of Hau IJaus, at a spot near the end of the Tarawera and the commencement of the Uriwera country, on the Kangaroa plains. We (" Wellington Independent ") think this story veiy doubtful because the later Tauranga papers, to the 27th ult., say nothing about it.

Mr John Kerr is a candidate for election to the seat in the House of Eepresentatives for the Pensioner Settlements, vacant by the resignation of Colonel De Quincey.

A destructive fire took place in Napier on the morning of the 21st ult., by which the Albion Hotel, and three other buildings were totally destroyed.