GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2480, 14 February 1867, Page 5

GENERAL SUMMARY.

If a journalist's wort were measured by tlie amount of news floating about, Wellington editors would certainly be living in clover at present. During the past month the sen of politics has been calm and untroubled; and there has been a perfect dearth of those startling events which occasionally fix the attention of a ■•community. However, news or no news, summaries must be written, and we shall therefore proceed to narrate for the benefit of our home readers the few events of interest which have transpired since the publication ol our last summary. Towards the close of January, the natives and the colonial forces came into ■collision in the Tauranga district, the result being that three Maori villages were destroyed, with a loss on our side of three killed. What loss the natives suffered, or whether they sustained any loss at all, is not known. The rebellious natives belong chiefly to the Pirirakau and TNgatipouru tribes, and they assert as their casus belli, that their land, which has been confiscated, is being wrongfully taken from them. The disturbance has i been brewing a long time, and appears to < have had its origin in the tardy survey and settlement of the land by the Government after its confiscation. The overt cause of the outbreak was a party of military settlers being sent to take pos-

session of a portion of the confiscated laud, who were fired on while going up the Wairoa river. It is not probable that this disturbance will lead to any serious (results, as the opposing natives arc but ! few in number, and not likely to induce' j ; other tribes to join them. i The intercolonial Postal Conference 'will open at Melbourne on the 4th prox., when delegates from all the Australasian colonies are expected to be present. New Zealand will be represented by the Hon. John Hall, Postmaster- (General, and Mr Crosbie Ward, the latter being the gentleman who so successfully arranged the difficulties which existed between the G-overnments of New Zealand and NewSouth Wales respecting the Panama mail service. The object of the conference in which these gentlemen will take part is one of the greatest importance to this colony, affecting, as it docs, our postal communication with every part of the world, but full confidence is felt that both Mr Hall and Mr Crosbie Ward will worthily discharge the task they have undertaken. People are becoming somewhat reconciled to the operation of the Stamp Act, which caused such irritation on its first introduction. It is, of course, often perplexing to know what stamp should be placed upon such and such a document ; and, no doubt, the sale of almanacks has largely increased in consequence. Moreover, the Act is very searching, and briiigs such a variety of deeds within its influence that it is hardly safe to write one's name without affixing a stamp to the paper. Among other difficulties, a question has arisen as to whether bills drawn out of the colony before the first of January and accepted within the colony after that date are liable to the operation of the Stamp Act, aud the question is to be brought before the Supreme Court. But whatever may be its inconveniences to the public, the tax is proving a most profitable one to the Government, no less than £30,000 worth of stamps having been sold during tho month of January. It will be remembered that the estimated revenue derivable from this source was £50,000 per annum. The fact speaks well for the briskness of trade throughout the country. In our last summary we announced the Governor's arrival at Christchurch. After remaining there a few days and visiting several places of interest, His Excellency proceeded overland to Hokitika, by one of Cobb's coaches. The inhabitants of this town, even the site of which was unknown to most colonists a few years ago, did their best to outvie their neighbors on the other side of the island in the magnificence of their hospitality. A sumptuous banquet was offered to His Excellency ; and, if the newspaper accounts are to be relied on, the illuminations in honor of his arrival far transcended anything of the sort ever before attempted in New Zealand. After visiting Greymouth, His Excellency returned to Christchurch by the way ho came. Here he remained for several days, attending various fetes and rambling about the country in that regardless-of-appearances sort of style for which he is so famous. Sir George Grey was to leave Lyttelton yesterday for Dunedin, where tlie inhabitants have made suitable preparations for his reception, though not unmindful of business the while, having | prepared a monster petition on separation for His Excellency's perusal. HowI ever, we all have our hobbies. In gold mining news wo have to report a great rush to Haast river, on the West Coast. As is -usual in. new ruslies, the accounts as to the richness of the ground are conflicting. At the Grey, rushes havo also taken place near the Saltwater Creek, and a good deal of payable ground has been discovered. On one lead, called the Fenian lead, as much as 10 ozs or 12 ozs to the load have been taken out. In the Kanieri district matters are going on j steadily, although much of tho ground | has been worked out. A good deal of the working is being carried on by companies, most of which are doing very well. We notice that at Tuapeka, in Otago, where the first gold discoveries in that province were made, some rich auriferous ground has been discovered. His Honor the '^Superintendent returned to town on Tuesday evening last from a viait to Wanganui, whither he went to arrange some business, fhe nature of which has not transpired, with the Compensation Court. In the course of his journey he arranged with the natives from whom the Manawatu block was bought, as to what portions of tho block should be set apart for their use — the Government having promised to allot them certain reserves, by way of a gift. Tho jJmo when the Provincial Council will meet has not yet been officially announced, but its meeting cannot long be delayed, as the financial year will soon expire, and the Audit Act is imperative in its requirements that no expenditure of provincial revenues shall take place without the sanction of the Provincial Council. Messrs IT. J. Tancred and W. T. L. Travers are in tho field as candidates for the honor of representing the City of Christchurch in the General Assembly. It is said that Mr Edward Clarke, a Victorian barrister, has received the appointment of West Coast judge. The lion John Johnston, M.L.C., who has hitherto had a seat in tho Cabinet without office, has now received tho portfolio of Commissioner of Stamps. Mr A. Saunders has resigned his office as Superintendent of Nelson, and left with his family, for England, in the Countess of Kintore. Messrs W. Blackett, O. Curtis, and J. W. Barnicoat are in the field for tho Superintondency.

The wharf extension hasbeen completed but is not yet open to vossols, owing to a dispute between the contractors and tho (Government respecting the manner in which tho work has been performed. When opened, there will be sufficient depth of water at the wharf to enable the the largest ships to lie alongside. Another wharf improvement lias also been effected in the laying of pipes along the wharf to convey fresh water to vessels. A block of land within the province of Hawke's Bay, extending on the sea coast from the river Esk to the river Waikare, and stretching inland for about nine miles, has been brought within the provisions of " Tho Now Zealand Settlements Act, 1803." There is a large migration of Chinese going on from Australia to Otago, and as many of the steamers conveying them call at Wellington on their way, we havo a good opportunity of becoming personally acquainted with these strange people. Grenerally speaking, the Chinese are very much disliked by miners, tho chief causcof complaint against them being their filthy and thievish habits ; but they appear to possess a stoical determination of character which renders them quite indifferent to the ill-will of their neighbors. A few of them lately appeared on the West Coast, a sort of chosen twelve sent to spy out the character of the land ; but the reception they met with at Hokitika would, we think, be sufficient to induce them to seek another place of residence. A sitting of tho District Court was opened on the 19th ult, and several cases were adjudicated upon by his Honor Judge Ward on that and the following day, after which the Court broke up. Anniversary Day was celebrated by a regatta, but, the day being unfortunately wet, there was a very small muster of spectators. So far as the sport went, the regatta was the most successful that has taken place for several years past. The prizes, too, were a great improvement upon those offered at the regatta of 1866. On the following day rural sports were held at Tliorndon, which woro well attended. The Hutt Races are appointed to come off on the 26th and 27th prox, and will be preceded, a few days before, by the Wairarapa race meeting. It is rather unfortunate that most of our out-door amusements are hold about the samo period of the year, and the subscription lists suffer in consequence. Much interest is manifested in the result of a cricket match which is to come off in this town on Monday next between a Wellington eleven and a like number of Nelson players. Tho gentlemen selected to represent the latter province ere said to be excellent players, and our cricketers will have to do their best to beat them. The Odd Fellows Hall has been reopened as a theatre, and the amateurs have appeared before the public on two occasions, in tho drama of " The Miller and his Men." Both representations wore got up in a very creditable manner. The scenery used, which is entirely now, has elicited much admiration. It is the work of a local scenic artist, Mr J. H. Marriott. Amongst the passengers by the last homeward Panama boat, was Sir Charles Clifford, Xt, formerly Speaker of tho House of Representatives. A grammar school has been opened in Wellington by Mr Tuckey, 8.A., of St. John's, Cambridge, and Mr Hamilton, formerly of the G-eclong High School.