Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1957, 15 September 1863, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Wi Tako. — A private lelter from Napier says : — '* I received your note with the Maori of Wi Tako's letter. I think it can bear only one interpretation. We get those sort of epistles up here too. There can be no mistake that Wi Tako means mischief; he will do his utmost to assist the Waikatos in their absurd proposal of exterminating the pakebas." Tauranga. — A private letter from Napier' dated the 7th inst., ■-'ays:— Tbe Telegraph came in from Auckland with no news of importance. I learn tbat 100 Tauranga natives bad joined the rebels — says, of course that party will be under the ban of the Government, and confiscation will apply there as elsewhere. He has recommeuded the Government to blockade Tauranga, as that is the port wheie they get their supplies." Speaking of the state of affairs, he says — "These are serious times: a brighter day is no doubt behind the present cloud. The people must be chastised : afterwards they will yield to be taught both law and gospel. We must our time, and not give up all as iost." Theatrical. — Among the passengers by the Wonga Wonga, which arrived in this port on Saturday evening last, we notice the teturn'of Mrs W. H. Foley, who, with Messrs Webster and O'Brien, has been entertaining the good folks of Blenheim and Picton with a series of dramatic performances, which we are pleased to sac from the notices in the local press, have been most successful. Maori Ingenuity — The New Zealander has the following:- "A native woman entered Mr Hassan's boot and shoe establishment in Sliortland street, yesterday, and offered a sovereign for about a shilling's worth of what are technically termed by the trade " eyelets." Suspecting something wrong from tbe extravagance of the offer, Mr Hassan refused to let her have them,. and on enquiry ascertained that on the bead of a lucifer being inserted, they formed a perfect substitute for percussion caps. The fact ttas made known by Mr Hassan to some of the authorities, who were utterly incredulous until some of them were explo led in their presence. Oalifornian Circus. — The pavillion was fairly attended last evening, for the benefit of the Odd Fellows' Hal!. We need only say that the performances were as successful as ever An afternoon performance is advertised for to-'ay at 2 o'clock. The Southern Monthly Magazine* — We have been favoured with the September number of the Southern Monthly Magazine, which is a decided impiovement on its predecessors. The Auckland correspondent of the Examiner in writing of it says: — The seventh number of the Southern Monthly Magazine has been published and contains two things of great general interest; one, a very faithful lithograph of Koheroa and the Waikato, taken from a photograph ; aud the other, a good account of the war from its beginning, which is, I see, to be continued. I hear that the proprietors mean to have a succession of views of the seat of war, month by month, which certainly should be a great additional attraction lo the magazine. Auckland News. — The proprietors of the Nelson Examiner have courteously sent us per Wonga Wonga proof slips ofthe Auckland news contained iv their correspondent's letter, for which we offer them our best thanks. Arrest of Emissaries from Waikato. — The Nelson Examiner of the 10th iust., says : — •*•' Three Maoris from Waikato, wbo have been for some weeks past inciting the natives at Collingwood aud the West Coast, to disaffection to the Government, have been arrested by Mr J. Mackay, Native Secretary, on a charge of treason, and wete brought on herein the Sturt on Saturday last, aud lodged in our gaol. They were brought up for * examination, yesterday, before J. Poynter, Esq., Resident Magistrate, and remanded to be sent to Auckland for trial, where they will proceed in the Airedale next week. Mr Mackay deserves great praise foi the promptitude wilh which he has acted in this matter. The names of the meu are, Wiremu te Rekereke, Tamihana, and Poharama Tohekwe."

Miss Williams' Benefit.— This benefit, tendered by the amateurs of the W.C.D.F Club, takes place on Weduesday evening, 23rd inst, when, we are sure, a full house wiil greet the benificiare. Volunteering for New Zealand in Victoria. — In the Argus of tbe 26tb ultimo, we find the following precis of a debate on tbe previous evening with reference to this subject : — "The assistance tbat can be offered by this colony to the New Zealand Government, in the war now going on in that colony, was the topic of discussion in the Legislative Assembly last night, tbe subject having been introduced by Dr Evans; Mr Verdon stated that an application dated June last, had been received from Sir George Grey, urging that all the military assistance the colony could send should be sent. In reply, the New Zealand -Srovernment were informed that tbe Ministry were unwilling to give a decided answer, in the unsettled state of affairs betweeH the Imperial Government and America, until the arrival of the then incoming mail. A second urgent .application had been made by Sir George Grey in July, and a third bore date tbe 3rd of the present month. Both of these letters had been accidentally detained in Sydney, and had only reached Melbourne by tbe last mail. In reply, Major-General Chute had recommended to bis Excellency that one half of the wbole artillery and infantry force in the coony — or 50 men of. the Royal Artillery, and seventy-one men of the 40th Regiment, with tbeir officers — should be sent to Auckland, and that one half of tbe battery of Armstrong guns, the property ofthe colony should be lent to the New Zealand Government, Ministers, however, proposed that the whole of the Imperial troops should be sent to tbe seat of war, and the whole battery of six guns should be sent on loan to tbe New Zealand Government, if it were desired. The services of the Victoria bad not been asked,* and therefore it was not proposed that that vessel should be sent down, in the. meantime at least. Mr Verdon -also stated that, while no obstacles would be placed in the way of Colonel Pitt, the Government did not think that any extraordinary facilities should be offered to tbe formation of bis regiment of military settlers. Preparations have been made, we may add, by the military authorities to carry out tbe recommendations of BrigadierGeneral Chute. It was intended tbat the detachment should consist of one lieutenant, three sergeants, and fifty gunners of tbe Royal Artillery, and tbree Armstrong guns, with ammunition, &cc, under tbe command of Captain E. T. W. Purcell, R.A.; two subalterns, four sergeants, and eighty rank and file of the iQtfa Regiment, underthe command of Captain Badel ey, 40th Regiment. These troops wiU, it is expected, embark on Thursday or Friday .next, under the command of Captain Purcell, R.A., the senior officer. The whole of the men. are in joyous spirits at the prospect of assisting in the war at present going on; and we may mention tbat immediately on the men of the Royal Artillery being informed that the above number of that corps was required for service in New Zealand, the full number immediately volunteered their services. The men will be medically inspected, and will then be ready at a couple of hours' notice to embark. As many of these men leave wives and families behind them, it is to be hoped tbat the authorities will look after them, as it is impossible for women and children to proceed to Auckland now. Death of David Smith, Esq. — Very many in Wellington will recollect Mr David Smith, who in connection with the firm of Willis & Company, came down frem Australia in 1845 or 1846, and resided here forsome time. Those whose colonial recollections extend back thus far, will read with very great regret tbe following account of his melancholy death, extracted from the S. Herald ot tbe 12th ult.—" Yesterday mourning, a mournful accident wbich has.. since terminated fatally, befel Mr David Smith, of the firm of Willis, Merry, & Co. At about a quarter to seven o'clock, a man in the employ of Mr Robinson, of tbe Domain Baths, heard sounds as of a person moaning in great agony. On going in tbe direction from which the noise came, he discovered the deceased gentleman lying in a state of unconsciousness in the water, at tbe base of a cliff not far from the northern boundary of Robinson's Batbs. The place is away from tbe road leading to tbe batbs, and, owing to the steepness of the rocks—the descent from the lowest of which to where the deceased lay not less than 20 feet— -and to the approach by water being barred with fences on eitber side, Mr Smith could not be readily rescued. Tbe man at once informed Mr Josephson, of Elizabeth-street, who was bathing at the time and that gentleman immediately communicated the circumstance to the water police. A boat, manned by four of. the water police soon arrived, aud tbe fence having been broken away, Mr Smith was taken up, and, with tbe assistance of one of tbe city police, removed in a cab to the Infirmary. When admitted into that institution the unfortunate deceased was still in a deep state of coma; the bones of the skull were not injured, but there was a scalp wound on tbe back of the head, and bruises on the rigbt band and left elbow. The dangerous condition of tbe deceased is, however, understood to have arisen not so much from the injuries which had been received as from the fact that be had been in anapopletic fit. From the time of his beiug discovered there were no signs of returning consciousness, and, during | the day, the patient was unhappily attacked with several apopletic fits. Mr Smith, on admission into* the Infirmary, was promptly cared for by the resident house surgeon, and through- ! out the day, until his death in the evening, which took place at twenty minutes to nine o'clock, some or all of the other medical officers of the establishment were constantly in attendance. It appeared from the evidence on the inquest, that the deceased was very temperate and had enjoyed good health. Oiie of the witnesses had observed that for a month prior to his death Mr Smith had been somewhat nervous and excitable, but it was not until witbin a few days before that occurrence that alarming-symp-toms showed themselves. On the sth instant Mr Willis remarked a drowsiness of manner, and spoke to him respecting an apparent indifference to business. Dr Cox and a mutual friend spent the eveuing with the deceased, and tbey were distressed at observing his loitering gait and other symptoms of serious import. They, as Mr Willis had previously dooe, urged Mr Smith to at once submit to a course of medical treatment, but he replied that he had never been in better health. On the following mora* ning, Mr Willis wrote to the deoeased respecting his bealth, and he with 'other . friends repeatedly remonstrated with him ou account of his neglect in tbat regard. At one time it was feared that his mind was beginning to be impaired, insomuch that it was thought prudent to request the subordinates in the office to disregard for tbe time Mr Smith's instructions. On Monday, however, the deceased; though still regarding the fears of bis friendsas groundless, consented tn comply with their wishes Dr Cox procured medicines, and directed his patient to remain at home, and on no account to go to the baths, as he was apprehensive of danger arising from fits to which he might be subject while there. About five o'clock on the following morning Mr Smith went to bathe, as he bad been accustomed, and at a quarter to seven o'clock was fouud lying almost immersed iei the water, and in a state, of .;unconsciousness.'' The late Mr Smith was fiirmerly a partner in the house of WiUis, MerryAk Co. of Melbourne,* and subsequently in that- of Merry, Smith & Co. Recently on 5 the latter, firm ceasing, he joined the Sydney firm of WiUis, Me«y& Co.

Love and Doty.' — The' Daily Telegraph of the 9th inst, has the following: — "The Airedale which left Port Chalmers for the Northern Ports on Monday evening, conveyed Lieutenant Mace, — who, as our readers are aware, has been sojourning in our city for some time past, with the object of enlisting volunteers for the Auckland militia, — taking with him twenty men, most of whom seemed fine, stalwart fellows. On the departure of the Golden Age steamer, which conveyed the detachment to the Airedale on Monday afternoon, a very large concourse of spectators assembled on the Jetty, and greeted the departed heroes with loud cheers. A somewhat amusing scene occurred on the Jetty, caused by a young and rather well favored damsel, who, determined not to desert the object of their choice, one of the Auckland Volunteers, had ouly that morning entered " the holy state," in order to accompany her gallant lover to the seat of war. In accordance, however, with the old saying "The course of true love never did run smooth;" it would appear that some contretemps had occurred to ruffle the temper of the lovely bride, involving a delay of such an extent as to render her depaiture by the steamer then starting a matter of impossibility. In revenge, we conclude for this disappointment, she incontinently turned upon her spouse, and then and there, to the undisguised amusement of the assembled crowd, "punished" bim in true Amazonian style. It is some satisfaction to be able to add that this very vivacious heroine, who is likely to prove so useful an accessory to the Volunteer ranks, was, with her lord, ultimately enabled to join the steamer. Sikh Troops for New Zealand. — The Bengal Hurkaru points to New Zealand as a proper field for commencing the employment of Sikh soldiery in the British Colonies : — " The latest telegraphic news from New Zealand indicates a fresh opportunity for utilising the superabundant energies of the Sikh soldiery. The unprovoked attack upon a small party of Englishmen, reported by telegram, must inevitably lead to a fierce and vindictive warfare, nor can peace be restored until vengeance has been exacted, for such au atrocious outrage. It may be questionable, indeed, if the Sikhs themselves will admire the New Zealand mode of carrying on hostilities as much as the style adopted by the Chinese. They may even be disappointed in the matter of * loot,' and will be reduced to content themselves witb stripping from the slain garments like to the painted vest Prince Vortigeru had on, which from a naked Pict his sire had won. Be that as it may, they will probably hail witb delight any change from the monotonous existence of cantonments, and will gladly barter a life of ignoble ease for the perils and excitement of, more or less, glorious war. A couple of regiments might be spared just now without the slightest inconvenience." iMPORrANT News fbom the Bulleb — The same journal says: — "Just previous to the Sturt leaving tbe Buller to return to Nelson, on Wednesday last, intelligence was brought down the river, that two men in prospecting, bad turned out 103 ozs. of gold in a few hours from one hole; and that two other men had, in another quarter, got 70 ozs in a fortnight. W» hspe to bear further particulars hy next arrival. The weather had been very wet, so tbat little had been done at the diggings for the last few weeks." Olympic Theatbe. — We perceive by an advertisement in another column that on Thurs day evening next Messrs O'Brien and Webster, assisted by Mr and. Mrs George Ellis in their popular entertainment" Paichvvork,"and several gentlemen amateurs, will give an entertainment at the above Theatre.