Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1506, 19 March 1861, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The Maoei Krua Fjlag.-— : l'he. following letter from Heremia and other 'principal* 1 promoters of the King flag movement on the West Coast has been handed to us for publication. We are very glad to hear thUt they eutertaiu feelings of good-will towards their white neighbours ; but we should have preferred, their expressing that good-will by an abstinence from questionable deeds rather than by mere words. Tbe " eight hundred" isfjpt slight exaggeration, the lowest European estimate being 200, the highest from £00 to 500. Wi Takawas not preseut, though many of his follovrers were.

[translation.]- ( ■ Pukekaraka, March 14, j&6l. Let this affectionate letter go on the nqrthwind, forth to our Pakeha friends residing in! Port Nicholson and its boundaries. Hail I Friends, under the protection of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom we possess all good. Friends, listen, our work has been raised — namely, the colors of the Maori King. On the 1 2th of March it waa,Taißed, the men who raised it were eight hundred. These are the words of the Eight Hundred. First,— that it should be lowered again; secondly, — that next March the flag should be again hoisted; thirdly^ — " do not run wilfully into evil ;" Fourthly,— " but if you the Pakeha desire evil go to Taranaki ; and if we, the Maories of this place or any other place desire evil, let us also go to Waitara;"-— Fifthly, do not render evil, places now lying in peace. v> . ■.:■■■?•■ Listen all of you men, who will .fix these words from Wairarapa to Wanganui \ ; - WCU These are the men whose words they are. 1 '• ■ Ko Heremia Te Tihi. Na Hapi te Whakarawe. Na Jonihi Teuhi Na Hone te Tihi Na Wiriharia te Angjangi Na Te Warihi te Hatete Na Tohu Tohu - ■ -'■■■■ Na Peina te Jukupo Na Piahana Ngakuku ■ ■'• : NaKerikore te tewe ! - ; Na Te Whatanui Na Rewiri Te Whiumairangi NaEpihateßiu NaTeHoia ' Na Wiremu te Ngara Na Tipene Huamatai Na Ngawhariki • • . > m NaMohiTeWiwiui " r Na Te Watiki Tarakaiahi Na Te Hariwira Kiharoa NaPaoe : • ";'' Na Aperahama te Huruhuru Na Wimata Tohe .

The Wellington Natives.— We have seen a letter from Taranaki, dated March I,' written to some natives here, in which endeavours are made to induce them to assume a hostile attitude—taunting them with being idle, dwelling among herds, yet too lazy to milk them, and suggesting that if they do pot know how, -they should send to Taranaki and learn. \Vehave been disappointed in gettiug a translation^ but hope to do so for our next ' ."' " t . | The General Assembly.— Th.ere'isa report originating with a gentleman lately from Auckland likely to be well informed, that the present intention of the Government i$ to call the Assembly together at Auckland in May next. The news by the next mail or two, may, however, and very likely will alter the present intentions of the Government, as regards the lime* though •not the place of meeting. Plimmer's Wharf. — Many, were, surprised to see the Creole haul alongside Plimmer's wharf yestevday. She is certainly the largest vessel that has doue so, and if a vessel of her size, 131 tons, can do so with ease; it becomes a consideration whether the necks of the Wonga Wonga's passeugers should be endangered by her continuing to berth at Swinbourne's dilapidated jetty. The Creole took in a quantitj of Hurley's saw mill timber from London's new wharf, a few feet from the road ; and fills up at Plimmer's. fibe is the largest vessel that has entered Porirua. , '

Mr. Piokering's Address. — There is a portion of this address, which, though it is haYdly worth noticing] except as an instance of what mistakes persons sometimes fall into and how they mislead others, may as well be corrected. Mr. Pickering would induce >he belief* (hat whalers, and vessels geuerally,.do not? ves^ri'to Wellington because of the excessiy^>;]b|i^iijr dues, and that by removing these the porip^Quld l be in ade attractive. The fact is theriß^areir'no harbour dues. There is a trifte. pilotage, whiob no stranger ever o^je^tSj^o pay ', but is only too happy 'to dp 5p.,.,. \ ti'&....i*J°{- i--1 The Elections,— -The Hutt .Elections hayiß: resulted in the return of Messrs Barton^Buck, Fitzherbert, McEwen, and S White wo()d^ theret? was no opposition. At the Wairarapa, Messrs^ Masters and Jackson, have been nominated ia addition to the two late members:, the polling took place yesterday, We shall feej*r the result .-'■•- ■ ,-,... - : . ..,*>■■,,. "•.-■'■■■' '■;■■.'

wildebeeste, if fresh can run well, on dry hard soil. This is certain. Well then the Prince took to horse, as did all (ladies included) who could command steeds. — Bang, baug, bang, went the rifles, bouffbouff, remarked the curs. The game in thousands were in view, wondering "What next?" While the game was careering past the house, the Prince dropped two blesboks. The hunt afterwards resembled more of the end of a battle, than a hunt. There advanoing in rapid line, were the huntsmen, (how many we cannot tell, but all possessing guns) and further on were the uuarmed enemy, falling thick, and gradually edging away, in the direotion of the living hedge of Kafirs, who again forced them back. The slaughter was tremendous, considering, that it did not endure beyond an hour. How many fell on the spot, or died afterwards of their wounds, or were caught by the Kafirs, it would be difficult to tell. The Prince shot 24 to his own gun. Young Mr. Jocelyn (his ohum middy) shot four. The number which is reported to have fallen may be aocounted for by keeping in view that one rifle bullet may kill and certainly wound sortie three antelopes, under the circumstances we have been describing. A gentleman, interested in the result, took some pains to ascertain from the Kafirs, (who benefited by the hunt,) the proximate tally. They say, that between eight hundred and one thousaud had com? to grief, in consequence of the hunt, consisting of Blesbok (Gazella Albifroust, Wildebeeste (Catoblepas Gnu), Ostrich Bonte, or Striped Quaggas (Fqus Buchellii), and Springboks (Gazella Euchores). In the stampede, even horses whioh had been peaceably graziug on the flats, joiued in the rush, and two even took shelter in the W.C. at Bain's Vley. In the excitement, four Kafir horses were shot. A certain youth, in the prince's suite, seeiug two mules scampering toward's Mr. Bain's ploughed land, worked himself into a state of excitement, lamenting his sad fate, in that he had no horse to start in pursuit of the Zebras. He was however afterwards gratified in the use or abuse of a horse, according to the ideas of the lender. The Kafirs have been hunting up to yesterday on Mr. Bain's grounds. On Wednesday last, Mr. Bain was to have beat for lions, whifih have lately been making themselves invisible. Probably as an adjunct to this, Mr.fßain will favor us with the particulars. It is conjectured that altogether, the game has been, up to yesterday, thinned to the tune of 5000 head. It would be tedious to relate what every one killed, including Sir George Grey, Sir Walter Currie, Major Cowell, Mr. Rivers, | Lieut.-Colonel Bissett, the " Dirty Boys," and others. Suffice it to say, that such a hunt taken with all its concomitant circumstances and incidents, has not taken place in any part of the civilized world, within the present century. The excitement manifested by the undemonstrative Prince, the grave Sir Geo. Grey, the dignified Major Cowell, and others, as well as by the ladies, was most laughable. We were almost prepared to hear of a few Kafirs as well as horses and pack-oxen, being summarily disposed of. Therefore we are rejoiced to say, that we have not even heard of so much as a spill. We have attempted to convey but a faint impression of the hunt. We assure our readers that if some Rip von Winkel had suddenly awoke, as the chase began, he would have declared that bedlams for all grades and sexes, had suddenly been emptied of their occupants. ' The hunt having commenced on Mr. Bain's compound, thereafter took the direction of Bloemfontein, and was concluded in sight of the town. The fact was, that the Prince and suite (all except the Kafirs) were weary of slaughter. Mr. Bain had made his arrangements to entertain the Prince and suite for luocheou ; but having worked their way so close to Bloemfontein, and time being precious, they held on— Sir W. Currie, Col. Bisset, and Mr. Jocelyn, returning to deliver the thanks of the Prince, for the sport which had been afforded him by Mr. Bain. The train* including the riding horses of the Prince aud suite, had started about 9 a.m., to await being overtaken, some three and a half hours, on horseback from

hence— at the farm of Mr, Prinsloo, on

the Winburg road. Through the prompt kindness of Mr.,Jlamelburg, (who lent his cart and horses; the Prince, Sir Geo.

Grey, Major Cowell, and Mr. Rivers, were able to depart immediately they were ready. Sir Walter flume, Colonel Bisset, young Jocelyn, and Dr. Morton followed. On the return from Bain'?

Vley to Bloatnfontein, Captain Adam Kok and the Chief Morokn, with their -respective complement of counsellors, were awaiting the Prince and Governor, with whom they had interviews. A mixed lot of Fingoes, Zulus, and other fighting Kafirs (women included) performed' a

war dance, en coslumo, which seemed to amuse his Royal Highness. This concluded — the illustrious visitors entered

the cart. The whip cracked —the assem-

bled multitude cheered— the great guns boomed — and the " Sailor Son " of " England's Queen," — " The Mainstay of Liberty," and "Monitor of the World," disappeared from our view, loaded with the blessings and hearty good wishes of fond hearts — to return, however, once

more, we trust, in the company of his " big brother " the Prince of Wales, or another male member of the Queen's

Thus ends " canter the

family. THIRD."