LOCAL AND Q-ENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2729, 8 September 1868, Page 5

LOCAL AND Q-ENERAL NEWS.

To-day's Demonstration. — We understand that covers will be kid for 250 at the cnterlainnient to be given to Sir George Grey, K.C.8., at the Odd Fellows' Hall, this day, at half-past one o'clock. Nearly 250 tickets were disposed of to last night. JXo other tickets can be issued by any one but tho Hon. Sec. (Mr R. J. Duncan), to whom application for any must be made before one o'clock. We are very glad to find that the gallery has been thrown open for a limited number of ladies only — tickets five shillings each. Want of Confidence in Ministers. — Mr Fox's resolutions stand third among the notices for to-morrow. Considerable interest is taken in the result of # the discussion, ns it not only involves the fate of the Ministry but may lead to a dissolution of Parliament. Orders of the Day. — There are no less than J nineteen orders of the day upon the parliamentary notice paper issued this morning. The motion for a committee to consider the Financial Statement stands second on the list. Lowry Bay Estate. — Mr. Stafford will tomorrow move for leave to introduce a bill for the sale of this estate and to authorise the acquisition of a site for the erection of a residence for the use of the Governor of New Zealand. Claims of Mr Busby.— This gentleman has been awarded £38,000 to be taken out oi tho Provincial Waste Lands of Auckland. Mr Busby was Imperial Agent in New Zealand during the early days. lie was originally sent to New Zealand by the Government of New South Wales. Mr Williamson, Superintendent of Auckland, has moved for the records connected with his appointment and residence here on behalf ol tho New South Wales Government. Crowded Out. — We have received a budget of Parliamentary papers ; but must defer noticing them until our columns arc in a less crowded state. Our Police report (which is unimportant) and much other matter has to be held over from the same cause. How to Preserve Decaying Maoris!— lt would appear that his Excellency Sir G. Bowcn, is anxious to "arrest the decaj r of tho Maori race," for in a dispatch from the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, dated Juno 12, his Grace " views with pleasure the steps taken by his Excellency to obtain complete information on Native affairs, and earnestly hopes (with Sir George), that the measures now in progress may arrest the decay of the Maori race." What are tho measures referred to ? Are they in force at Patea ? " Wellington Punch." — The seventh number of Punch was published yesterday. It is 80 well got up in every respect that it is to be regretted that it is the last issue but one of the present series. The engravings have a more finished appearance than was observable in the earlier numbers. The reading matter is pqiiant and witty. The principal cartoon is a clever hit at maudlin, sympathisers with Maori murderers. The Colonial servant galisin, and the vulgar habits of certain "swells" are appropriately caricatured. Tho public will bo glad to know that "Stafford on Architecture" (especially the lam Boric stylo as applied to ball rooms "), and "Hall on Bookkeeping" will shortly appear. What are the two S.'s ?— Stafford and Stagnation. The number is highly creditable to Mr F. Varlcy, the proprietor. Exhibition of Pictures and Engravings. — Mr Charles Russell is now exhibiting, at the Wellington Athenaeum, a collection of 200 oil and water colour pictures and engravings, recently imported from England, which well deserve inspection by those who have a taste for artistic productions. The exhibition will only last for three days, (to-day, Wednesday and Thursday) . Some of the sea scenes and social pieces are in excellent style and taste. Poor Old Man. — A letter appears in our contemporary the Post complaining that a letter of a similar tenor addressed to the Editor of the Independent, had not been published. As a matter of fact, this assertion is entirely untrue. Mr Plimmer's letter, — terrible orthography, wonderful grammar, and all — was published verbatim et literatim in tho Independent of September 1. Our poor old friend's memory must be failing him sadly. We should bo tender with the eccentricities of advancing senility. Sitting op the Assembly. — In consequonco of tho valedictory ceremonial to Sir G. Grey, on his departure for Europe, to bo held this day, both Houses of Parliament will not sit until seven o'clock in the evening. Major Hunter. — Major Atkinson will move, to-nsorrow, that this House having carefully considered the paperß relating to the inquiry into the conduct of Mr Inspector Hunter, A.C., upon the occasion of the attack upon Turo Turo Mokai, is of opinion that tho inquiry was unsatisfactory and incomplete ; that Inspector Hunter having rofused or neglected to turu oufc of bed when a' redoubt within sight of his post was attacked, rendered him unfit to remain an officer of the Armed Constabulary. Auckland. — Some political excitement prevails in Auckland in consequonce of the rumour which had readied there, that the Government proposed to cut that province up into fivo counties, to bo conducted by nominee chairmen. Whatever may have been the basis for the rumor, it has certainly been prevalent here for some time past. Extensive Sale at G-reytown. —Mr G. Thomas has just returned from Greytown, Wairarapa, having sold off Mr A. Carmont's entire stock in trade, on account of Mr W. Tonks, jun. The sale lasted throe days. There was a very large attendance, and the prices obtained, on the whole, satisfactory. The Maoris made large purchases, and appeared to have abundance of cash. There has not been such an extensive sale before in Greytown.

Captain Milxs and the Htjtt Rifle Volunteers.— The Hutt Rifle Volunteers, No. 1 Company, entertained their popular Captain at a dinner which was given on Saturday, at the Masonic Hall. Mr Filzherbcrt occupied the chair. Colonel Reader and the officers of the Lower Hutt and Taita corps were present. The health of the guest of the evening was drunk with much cordiality. In responding to the toast, Captain Mills thanked the company for tho unexpected honor done him. He could not but feel highly gratified at that mark of respect. From the time he joined this Company in July, 1860, to the day on which they had last paraded under his command, he had experienced nothing but kindly feeling from all, and he took that opportunity of saying that during tho whole of that period he had never found it necessary to report a single case of disobedience of orders, or of misdemeanor of any kind to mar the unity of members. He trusted that this state of fueling would long continue amongst them, and that under their new commander they would endeavor to maintain efficiency and excellence in rifle practice. The day was not far distant, he hoped, when one of the members of his old company would win the Champion Belt, or at least a first class prize. Ho concluded by thanking all for their good feeling, and for tho honor they had done him. Captain Mills proposed the health of Captain Whitewood and the officers and members of tho Taita Volunteers, and spoke of their readiness at all times to co-operate with the Hutt Rifle Volunteers. The whole affair pns3ed off remarkably well. An excellent dinner was provided by Mr N. Valentine. As English Soldier among the Maoris. — It lias long been known that a deserter from the 57th Ecgiment, named Kcmbell Bent, was among the Maoris. It is believed that he was the man who shot Colonel Hazard, it being currently reported that thatgalluht officer said before he died " It was that scoundrel Bent who shot me." This renegade was observed among the '■ natives at the recent affair at Te Ngutu-o-te-manu, where his disreputable and treacherous career was ended by a shot from one of our rifles. The Wanganui Chronicle gives the following particulars : — " Among the ' loot' of Te Ngutu-o-te-manu was found a curiosity in the shape of a 6pccios of Diary, kept by an Englishman, named Kembell Bent, a deserter from the 57th Regt., and who lias been with the disaffected natives ever since he descried from the Queen's army, now some years, aiding and abeiting them in their defiance of law and order. It can be gathered from Bent's diary —queer, disjointed, illiterate sentences, not very easy to understand, and bearing evidence that the man was gradually forgetting tho English tongue — that he thoroughly detested his life among the savages, bitterly deplored his renegade conduct, and wished, to return to his countrymen, was even at times under an overpowering impulse to throw himself into their hands, but the dread of an ignominious death deterred him." The deserter has received his deserts ; his death in the field fighting against his own countrymen is, in our opinion, as ignominious a3 it is possible for a death to bo. Gold Duty. — Mr Mervyn is to move to-mor-row for leave to bring in a bill to enable Provincial Councils to remit or otherwise regulate the export duty on gold in cases where they deem it desirable. Latest From The Front. — Cobb's Wanganui coach was due on Friday, but did not arrive in Wellington till Saturday at 3 p.m., owing to the Wiakanao river being flooded. Colonel McDonnell had selected a few men from tho Native Contingent, and had started upon some secret expedition of which we cannot expect to hear more before the end of the week. Neither Europeana or Natives who accompanied him knew were they were going, and he is again determined that the enemy shall know nothing of his movements. As usual, he has made a night march, but what part of the thicket he may penetrate at what point, or when, time alono can tell. Formerly, when he used to apply to tho Commissioner for native guides to take him to some certain place, in some mysterious way or other, he generally found it evacuated. Now there is no Commissioner and he selects his own guides. The friendly chiefs (sajs the Times) converse freely and say that they are afraid of another Pokaikai Commission. Tho interview between More and Mr Pai'ris has been translated and read to them. They say that Parris is a fool and More a rank rebel, and that between them they are cheating the Government by deluding them into tho belief that by Parris' soft policy he can settle everything. The colony has been too often and too long misled in this way, and it is time Mr Parris was, with other Native Commissioners, sent about his business. Major Hunter's Conduct : Result of the Official Inquiry. — The following is tho formal ' opinion of the Board, after hearing the evidence : — " That after Major Von Tempsky had gone to the relief of Turu Turn Mokai, and left the camp, magazine, &c., in charge of Inspector Hunter, the latter was not justified in further reducing tho strength of tho garrison, except on two occasions he did so, namely, in sending an escort with the surgeon, and a party with stretchers to succor the wounded reported to be on the road to Waihi." We append the decision of Colonel Haultain, Defence Minister, which haß been approved by his Excellency the Q-overnor : — " The finding of tho Board on the charge submitted by Lieut. Colonel McDonnell for their investigation iB approved ; and Inspector Hunter is entirely acquitted of blame for refusing to send any further portion of the force at Waihi to the relief of Turu Turu Mokai. Ho had been left in command of the redoubt by Major Von Tempsky, and would not have been justified in reducing tho strength of the post unless ho had reason to suppose that that officer was in urgent noed of assistance. But Inspector Hunter's conduct in not turning out of bed when another post within sight of his own camp, was reported to be attacked, showed so much apathy and want of alacrity that, hud he not on former occasions proved his general zeal and courageous conduct, ho could no longer bo trusted in any position of responsibility. His character has an officer has suffered, but in consideration of his previous services tho opportunity of redeeming it will not be taken away from him ; and it is confidentoly expected that ho will by his future conduct justify tho leniency which is now shown to him." The Suez Route.— Tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has sent a copy of a resolution to tho Postmaster General urging tho necessity for keeping up mail communication with England by tho Suez route. Wo understand, says tho Otago Daily Times, that a reply has been received by the Secretary to the Chamber, to the effect that the financial condition of the Colony ronders it impossible to continue to subsidise a steamer to bring to New Zealand letters by the Suez mail ; but that mails for that route will continue to be sent and to be received by unsubsidisedßteamers. Press Changes. — We hear that the proprietorship of the West Coast Times has passed into the hands of tho proprietor of the Observer. For tho future tho Observer will be called tho West Coast Times, with which ie incorporated tho Westland Observer. The publication of the Leader and tho Despatch has also coasod.