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Western Star, Issue 100, 9 October 1875, Page 6

Some amusement was -auscd on tll() Spit yesterday, says Ihe Hawke’s Bay Telegraph of/ the 24th ult., on the landing of the single girls from the Helen Denny," by the old Native chief, Puora KaiwlmtipHiisisting on engaging om of ~ them as cook. The old gentleman, who is .credited with already possessing three wives, was exceedingly indignant at the Immigration Agent’s refusing his offer, while the girls-were extremely ■■ amused at the impudence of the follow,presuming • to suppose that they had come 15,000 miles to “ better themselves ” by taking service under a. tatooed savage.. The recently-reported revived activity on thepart of Tongariro, and the frequent earthquake • shocks recently experienced in,various parts of " the North Island, have caused some little speculation in scientific circles, and two plausible-, theories have, says the Post, been advanced to account for the facts. The first is thatTongariro objects to being outdone by Ilecla, and is determined to show that in eruptions New Zealand can beat Iceland. On the other hand it is urged that the Maori giant is a strong anti-Provin- , cialist, and being disgusted with, the tardyprogress made by Parliament in the matter of ■ abolP-ion, is-determined to take the-mattcr in its*, own hands and abolish the North • Island provinces in the most complete, effectual, and summary manner.

The meeting of Natives at Parihaka is noticed by the Taranaki Herald as follows :— Ano-.. ■tiler of To Whiti’s half-yearly meetings has terminated, with -about the - same - result as those he has previously held during the past five.or--six years. There has been much feasting, and speeches of the usual allegorical character wero - deliverod. The meeting, was a largo one, and the numbers present were variously estimated at between twelve to fifteen • hundred. The food for the feast was distributed bn the 14th, and consisted of ton bullocks, 127. pigs, 12,700 kits of potatoes, besides largo quantities- of flour aud-t sugar.. Of course, there was much talk,, but the subject matter of it, as far as it could be understood, was peaceful—though mixed up as it was, with spiritual quotations it would ibo -diffiqalt to, gather what was really the meaning..

One Campbell,, (says the New Zealand Times) i who has moved in good society, and claims con-. nection with tho army, either in tho position of ' captain or major, has been arrested on a chargo . of obtaining money under false pretenses, and the--alleirod particulars of the case are of a rather unusual nature. Some months ago he was a passenger from one. costal port to. another in one of tho New Zealand Steam Shipping Company’s boats* and during the trip, or at one of the ports, a box belonging to him was mislaid. Ho immediately raised a, great hubbub about Jus serious loss, alleging the box to have contained his commission, ~ a gold cup, and a variety of other articles of great intrinsic worth, and stated that £IOO would not recoup him. Eventually, the N.Z.S.S. Company agreed to pay him £6O damages, and the money was.paid over, The other, day, however,, the missing box turned up, but on being opened in the presence-of witnesses, was fouud to contain nothing but a fev old- clothes. The company thereupon instructed Mr, Travers, their solicits,. to institute criminal, proceedings against - befl. ' • ■ -■ ’ V _ Av