WANGANUI. Tuesday,

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1099, 10 July 1879, Page 2

WANGANUI. Tuesday,

Dr. Redwood, the Catholic Bishop of Wellington, has performed the coromony of blessing the site for the convent to be attached to the tit. Miuy's Church. A special colleotion was made, and £600 promised. The Bishop intimated that arrangements had been made for a sister to come out from England as soon as convenieuc. Ho urged upon the congregation the necessity of maintaining the efficiency of the schools, and stated that the Catholics m the colony did not receive justice from the Government ; the Catholics numbered one -seventh of the population, and ought to have one -seventh of tho sum allocated for educational purposes.

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. EASTERN MAORI ELECTORAL

DISTRICT.

The poll for a member for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, m the room of of the late Karaitiana Takaihoana, took place yesterday. The following are the latest returns received here:

Henare Matua : At Grey town, 55 ; Wairoa, 1 ; Porangahau, 32 ; Masterton, 33 ; Napier, 9 ; total, 120.

Henare Tomoana : Grey town, 19 ; Wairoa, 11; Masterton, 3_; Napier, 21 ; total, 85.

The Grand Jury will, at the request of the Crown Prosecutor, not be discharged until after Monday next, m the hope that it may be found possible to have some of the Maori indictments ready by that time for trial ac the present sessions. The indictment against Cooper, and Brodie, for a breach of the Arms Act, will not be ready till Monday. A true bill was found agaiust Mrs Phillips for arson. Major Brown has telegraphed to the Native Minister that there is abundant evidence that the natives generally are losing- the faith which thoy have so long implicitly reposed m Te Whiti, so many of the ploughmen having been arrested, and taken away from their homes without any Divine interposition being manifested on their behalf. The natives are beginning to doubt the truth of the predictions of the so-called prophet, and seem very Djuch as if they had been duped.

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

The Maori prisoners will not be tried this session. The Crown Prosecutor stated today that he found it would be impossible prefer an indictment on Monday, and Dr Buller, who is retained for the defence, was also anxious to have the trial postponed. True bills were found against Cooper and Brodie, for a breach of the Arms Act.

Fifty thousand rounds of ammunition were shipped m the Patea, which left yesterday evening for Patea. Mr Gisborne is to be the first Minister of Mines, a portfolio never heretofore filled. He will probably be gazetted to it, m addition to the others, m a few days. It is extremely probable that the Government will, m then* financial proposals, include a re-imposition of the timber and grain duties.

There seems to be little doubt that the vacant seat m the Cabinet awaits Mr OlUvier's acceptance, although the arrangement is believed to be obj ectionable to the Southland members.

To avoid any difficulty about the opening of the session by Sir William Fitzherbert being introduced to the Legislative Council, he was to-day sworn m as a member of the Council by the Governor personally.