NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 385, 3 September 1869, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(Condensed from the Daily Times.) Naweh, August 28. War Items.

A letter from Mauuhiri (Tamati Ngapora) to Mr. Searancke, R.M., demanding the surrender of the men ana arms lately seized at Ngaruawahia, has been published, and has created some sensation in Auckland, where it is looked upon as a threat. On tho 19th, SUOU ounces of gold were received in Auckland from the Thames. Pollen street, at the Thames, has been rushed, some boys having found gold in the sand there. August 2otb, Ninety friendly Natives left Takapau yesterday, to reconnoitre Te Kooti’s position at Patea. Henare Tokomoana leaves to morrow, with one hundred and twenty more, for tho same p.aee. A number of Natives have arrived here from Poverty Bay on their way to Wellington to give evidence against me Maori prisoners confined there. ’

August 28.

A letter has been received Uom I'atea from the chief Henare, stating that two ot his men were taken prisoners by Te Kooli, but were spared on the intercession ot Heuheu.

During the night they escaped, and gave information of Te Kooti’s whereabouts. They state that his present position is at I’outu, but that he intends to make Tougariro his head quarters. The Sturt left at 12 o’clock to day with Mr. Hamlin, the interpreter on board, for the East Coast, to eniist oue hunureu Ngatiporou. Colonel Herrick reached Runanga to day. Parliamentary Items. Wellington, Augt. 23,

Mr. "Vogel moved to day, in Committee of Ways and Means, a resolution authorising tiie imposition of an import duty of 9d per cwt. on unmanufactured, and Is per ewt. upon manufactured cereals, the Governor in Council having the power to cease collecting the duty whenjpriecs fall below, and to reimpose it when they exceed the following scale : —Wheaten flour, 21s per cwt. ; wheat, 6s 6d per bushel; oats, 4s (id per do ; and barley, os per do. Mr. Stafford and several of the Northern members opposed the motion, while several of the Otago and Canterbury members supported it. The debate is still proceeding. August 24. The Government have given notice that they will introduce a Bill permitting the re-union of Otago and Southland; The Government Defence resolutions met with considerable opposition in the Legislative Council. Colonel W'hitmore moved several amendments on them, but they were all negatived. Mr, Gray moved the

omission of all the words referring to tho Ghoorkas in tho fifth resolution, which was carried by tho Chairman’s casting vote. The resolutions as amended, were then carried by seventeen votes to five. Mr. Vogel’s motion for a protective duty on cereals has been rejected on a division by twenty five votes to twenty two. Mr. Fox in reply to a question by Mr. Bradshaw stated, that the Ministry would not advise the Governor to disallow the “ Otago Hundreds Act.” Mr. Macandrew’s resolutions regarding a monthly steam service _to San Francisco have been carried. Aug. 25. Mr. Curtis moved to-day that Mr, Fox’s letter to Major Brown was a breach of privilege. A warm and very long debate ensued. The Government declared that they accepted the motion as a party one, ana made it a Government question. It was eventually negatived, on a division, by twenty-nine votes to twenty-seven. The Defence Estimates were passed last night, without opposition. Mr. M‘Lean said that the Government would call the House together again when the £150,000 was spent, unless the House, to avoid meeting earlier than usual, liked to pass a contingent vote of £50,000. Aug. 20. A contingent vote of £50,000 for Defence pmrposes was passed to-day, as also a vote of £50,000 for making roads in the North Island. The Governor sent down a message today, recommending a vote of £3,000 to Mr Fitzhcrbcrt, for his services in connexion with the conversion of loans.

'Jhe sum of £l5O has been voted for the purchase of a_ boat for the Otago Naval Volunteers. August 27. The House unanimously agreed to-day to advance £IO,OOO, on mortgage, to the War totara and I’atea settlers, to enable them to re-occupy their faims. The Government stated that none of the rebel natives would be allowed to return to the district, which would be occupied and protected by Eopata ; n 1 ajparty of Nga i^orou. The Otago Loan Bill passed its second reading by a majority of thirty-one votes to eighteen. It afterwards passed all the remaining stages, and was sent up> to the Legislative Council. August 29. An advance of £15,000 to the province of AVellington, for the construction of a bridge at Wanganui, has been agreed to, on the security of the tolls; the sum to be re-paid within seven years.