AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2403, 14 December 1870, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(I’KU ukeviixe’s telegram comi-any 11KUTim’s AO ENT.) December 1. A meeting of the Snh-Gomniittec of the Auckland Alliance for the {Suppression of the Liijuor Traffic has been held for the purpose of receiving the result of the canvas of City West of thorn for and against the Permissive Bill, with the result of. 590 males and 2fiS females for, and dl males and Id females against ; while 1 P2 remain neutral ; proportion in favor of the Bill, 20 to 1. An ordination service was hold in St. Paul’s Church, when three candidates—E. R. Otway, L. 0. Brady, and T. Scott—were ordained deacons. Messrs Whitson and Gow’s brewery, perhaps the largest in New Zealand, was opened yesterday, and a ball took place in the evening. . . An open-air meeting, under the auspices of the New Zealand bocal Industry League, will be held on Saturday. It is pretty certain that Mr Todd met his death through the survey, and not as was first supposed by any personal feeling on the part of the natives, lie was warned ,by a native woman, who had sons working for him, that the Maoris were coming down, but ’hc only laughed at the idea. She then wanted him to allow her sons to go, but he refused. it was her SOU who was WOUlldcd. The words she used to Todd were—“ There are two guns ; one for the prospectors and one for the surveyors.” Todd was buried with military axd Masonic honors, being an ensign in the Waikato Militia and a mason. Great excitement prevails, people not knowing who may tic next. ° December d. The Provincial Government was defeated on the second reading of the Appropriation Act. An amendment, to the ctfcet that the estimates were unsatisfactory, was carried

by a majority of four, the votes being 19 foi and 15 against. The Government resigned to-day. The Waikato murderers consisted ot hvc men—•named II a to, Ngaru to Rangatira, Paimi. two (thers names not known, and a woman named Hone. TheKingitcs are 'cry :;liy of coming into Alexandra. The halt caste is recovering rapidly. John M'Douough, a groom in the employ of Ida Honor the ,Superintendent, dropped dead of heart disease, at Epsom, on Thursday intelligence of a startling nature was received in Auckland yesterday from the Waikato. A party were engaged in surveying land at Pirongia, when they were attacked yesterday morning by four armed natives, and Mr Todd, the surveyor, shot dead, and a half caste named Napcra wounded in the arm and thigh. The constabulary were under arms, and great excitement prevailed. A Militia armed patrol wont for the body of Mr Todd and the wounded man. Mr Todd was in the service of the Government at tire time of the murder, and was well known both amongst Europeans ami Maoris. He was engaged surveying confiscated laud, which hail been given by Government to Hone te One and his tribe, ns compensation for land taken from them during the war. Mr Todd was engaged to cut up the land, so that Grown grants might be issued. Hone te One did not wish the land surveyed, and told Mr Todd that it would he dangerous to do so. .Repeated warnings were given that it would be impolitic to interfere with this block. The I’irongia natives felt alarm in consequence of two diggers prospecting for gold, and a band of .30 armed Hau-haus started in pursuit of them, but fortunately were laughed out of their deadly purpose by a peaceful native. The Iv’v. Mr Schnakcnbourg says that the native mind has been in an unsettled state ever since. From what we can learn the affair has been a kind of ambuscade. The attacking party is said to have been small, including two women. Mr Fritgell and party were working on the same block, but had not seen Mr Todd for a week; they arc, however, safe. Colonel Lyons, who is in command of the district, telegraphed to Dr Pollen that all was quiet and no panic existed. The general belief by those competent to judge is that the murder has been committed by King natives, The Government will institute a strict inquiry, and will demand the bodies of the murderers from the King. A native woman Rutu, who was in the tent, gives two reasons for the runnier. One was attempts at gold-seeking, and the other surveying the land, film says there was no pers ual animosity against Mr Todd. Capt. Barnett has offered his services to the Government to hunt up the murderers.