ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 13 June 1872, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

[Rrom our Special Correspondent.] The aspect of Alexandra lias been quite changed by an influx of native visitors who have come to see the Kative Minister, and the township has an air of hustle usually foreign to it. The visitors consist c, hie. fly of Ngitimaniapoto aucl of Ngatiraukawa, from To Whitu and Te Wa-o-tu, and tents _ have been pitched for their accommodation. It will be remembered that, last year a portion of the Ngatiraukawa entered into negociations with the Government with a view to the cessation of opposition on their part and to a secession from the principles which they had hitherto adopted. The visit they are now paying to Mr. McLean is a development of their intentions as expressed at that period, and has been the occasion of a formal renouncement of tlieir former ways. The representatives sent by the tribe stated that they spoke in the name of a hundred men, who had abjured the allegiance they had previously given to their so-called ruler, _ and who now openly declared themselves on the side of the Government. There were still, they said, some of their friends who were opposed in opinion to them, and who preferred adhering to the side to which they had belonged for some period of time, but a very large majority had resolved to separate themselves at once and for good from the party of obstruction. One of the speakers, in the figurative language of the Maori, made u*e of an expression illustrative of their intentions, "The weka when he has once escaped from the snare will not return to it," implying that he and his friends having once withdrawn from the ranks of a faction opposed to the Government, they were not at all likely to join it again. These "deputies also repudiated any authority which Tawhiao might claim on their lauds, and asserted their full resolution to once more take the control of them into their own hands. They expressed themselves as fully determined to resort to no measures atagonistic to the Government, and declared that they would have nothing to do with Te Kooti, who after all, as will be seen by an outline of speeches below, is regarded as a prisoner and is not likely to be capable of doing any further mischief. The idea of public works seems to have ! become popular among them, as they asked that a I road should be constructed from Eotorua to Te - Whitu, which would very nearly connect Tauranga ! with Cambridge, and appeared very keenly alive to i the advantages to be derived by tribes employed at | such works of utility. I The Ngatimaniapoto, who formed the larger pori tion of the assembly, and who were headed by two i chiefs of rank, Hauauru and Te Taotiui, together with a brother of Rewi and others, came down for the object of escorting Mr. McLean to the Kuiti, should he be found willing to go that distance. It j transpired, however, that the natives of that district j were not prepared as yet to arrive at any well-de- ! fined conclusions. There was, so it was reported, still some hesitation and indecision touching the general aspect of things, and as time is a great and powerful ally in all Maori transactions, it is possible that it may be deemed advisable to allow what is | termed, the King party some further psriod for con-: j sideration. ; j On the 6th a korero was held between the repreI sentatives of the two tribes, the Ngatiraukawa oc- ! copying one side of the road, and the Ngatimaniapoto the other. The former unhesitatingly declared

their secession from their former friends, and thus in an official maimer threw off whatever ties bound them together. They also avowed their inteution of having nothing whatever to do with Te ICuoti. The'aaswer to this from the Xgatimaniapoto proves to what a low ebb that leader's fortunes have fallen. The speakers agreed that he was to hav« shelter in the King country, but only on condition of good behaviour and keeping himsolf quiet- One chief went so far as to announce in a figure, of speech that Te Kooti wa» now no more than a slave to Waikato. The declarations of the Ngatirattkawa were received as a matter of course, and it did not; appear as if •many of the Ngatirnaniapoto "would have objected to the 3ame course being adopted by their side. In the afternoon the .Ngatiraaniapoto returned to theii' homes. . 'Altogether there is no'doubt that a considerable change of feeling is taking place among these natives, the most casual observer cannot help noticing the alteration in their manners, and the renewal of unofficial intercourse between the two races, and the general attitude of the visitors at Alexandra indicate the probability that at no distant period a solution may be found to the present difficulties, and that friendly relations will be once more resumed.

INSPECTION OF THE TE AWAMUTU VOLUNTEER CAVALRY BY THE HON. D. McLEAN. On the 10th inst. the Te Awamutu Volunteer Cavalry, under Major Jackson, were inspected by the Hon. the Defence Minister in their drill-paddock at Te Awamutu. The troop mustered in ! good numbers, fifty-four being present, and not j; man -absent who was within the district The Dpfence Minister was by the corps in line, after which lie placed himself at the saluting-point and. the march-past took place at the walk, trot, and canter. A few evolutions were then performed, concluding with an adv,inje-in line at the gailop, the halt being sounded within a few horseslengths of Mr. Macleau r wh<i then addressed the corps as follows : '-Colonel Lyon, I have to congratulate you on the presence in Waikato of so efficient a corps, which cannot but be a most valuable auxiliary to the force under your command. It is a matter of great gratification to me to find in this frontier district the existence of the spirit which has ded to....the formation of the 1 e Awamutu troop. There probably is but little fear of their services being called into requisition ; but it is an old adage that preparation do us away with much danger, and it is far bett- r to organise during times of quiet such a force as I see before me thau to wait till the necessity occurs and then have to rai-c men in haste. Major Jackson I have to thank greatly for his exertions. At a time when complications were apprehended by the ■settlers, he came tor ward and offered to raise a mounted corps. In tins hehas well succeeded, and has organised a troop exhibiting a most gratifying state of efficiency. Owing to the exceptional circumstances under which the corps was raised, certain conditions were entered into with Major Jackspn, which will all be strictly carried out. The creditable manner in which both men and horses have drilled is attributable in a great measure to the instructor, and thanks are due to Col. Lvon for having placed at the disp sal of the Te Awamutu corps the services of so able an one as Sergt Fraser, who Will be presented with a gratuity of twenty-five guineas in recognition of his assiduity. I beg now to say farewell, and thank you for the opportunity you have given mc of witnessing your progress in drill, and I hope that during the next year you will continue to improve in it, although it appears to me that you have already attained a state of efficiency which merits great commendation." Three clieers were then given for Mr. McLean, and the troop was marched off. There is no doubt that the members of this corps must have taken a great deal of pains and have come to the determination not to make a mere show of volunteering. The consecutive training which they have received has had a capital effect upon both men and horses. In the wheels, for instance, both in column and in single squadrons, the latter so em eel to be aware of what was wanted of them; and though there was occasionally a little opening out, yet the wonder of all present was that they did so very well. The marching past, the formation of line to the front from column, the retirements from wings, &c., were all done without a mistake ; the dressing was .well kept, and.the distances very fairly so. The last movement was, as stated before, a general advance at a gallop, when the line had to rein up very sharply, and this, too, was capitally done. We are confident that the patrolling duties performed by the corps during the late times of excitement had a most salutary effect, and altogether wo may congratulate ourselves that in Waikato we possess a Cavalry Volunteer Corps secand to none in the Colony.

The magisterial decision.is rough on some of the mining speculators. Whether they have done something punishable or not, is reserved for the decision of a higher court, and must'.riot be discussed. There is this to be said, that no living man can assess the actual value of a mining share. It is an indeterminable quantity. I have known a share given away in dread of calls, sold for hundreds and even thousands of pouuds. There is, however, this much to be said—the method of transacting business under the Verandah has of late grea.tly detriorated in style. Loud-voiced men hawk their wares like vegetable dealers. The pavement might be mistaken for the saddling-paddock on the Cup day, when 50 raucous bookmakers are shouting the odds, and offering to "lay ag-en anythink*" I scarcely wondered at the view expressed by a little American, who, looking on in astonishment the other day, exclaimed, " Well, this is a mean business —it makes a man feel as though he had robbed a hen-roost." " ; A Sample of Our ' Government.—The' " Post " says : —" From a recently published Gazette in Wellington, it appears that there are 825 Justices of the Peace gazetted for the colony of "New Zealand, or. as near as may be, one magistrate for every 275 men, women, and children, in the colony. We may mention that, in the colony ' of Victoria, the; number of Justices is considered to be under 600. On the third of January last a challenge appeared in a London sporting paper, from Mr. S. Appleton, of Manchester- offering: to back S. Clayton to shoot against any man in the world at fifty pigeons each ; , and also offering to bet that no man breathing could kill thirty birds out of fifty A. S. Bogardos, of New York, has expressed his willingness to accept both challenges, offering to pay Clayton's expenses if he will come to America, or to shoot in England if his expenses are paid by the chaHfenger. Bogardos also offers | to lay 100 dols. against J,OOO dols. that he | wil4 kill 100 pigeons in 100 shots.. i . There is some talk in America of forming a | company to purchase Blair Atbol and anum- | bar of choice mares at the Middle Park sale, j when the late Mr. Blinkiron's unrivalled stud I is sent to the hamtner.