AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3008, 9 October 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

{From the Lyttelton Times' Correspondence.) September 24. Letters expected to arrive from Waikato yesterday are not to band. Latest reliable news states that the Kingites are greatly excited in consequence of the promise to restore the confiscated lands. Well-informed settlers think it is likely that eventually nothing less than a complete restitution of these lands will be accepted. A very uneasy feeling is extending amongst the Europeans settled upon the confiscated territory in Waikato. In most cases these people fairly bought and paid for their farms, and have expended upon them large sums of money. Messrs Douglas and Co. have drained and cultivated 40,000 acres, all of which may have to be given back ; so at least some of the Natives state. Mr Louis Hetit died on the 19th inst. As the only European who was permitted to reside within the King’s territory, his loss is of no alight importance, seeing that by his means much of what passed amongst the Kingites became known to successive Governments. Information from him was always reliable, Mr Hetit was greatly respected by all who knew him. Fpr some time past he suffered from paralysis on one side of the body. He leaves a numerous family, and a considerable amount of ppo*

perty. His son John was employed in the Native Department by the lion. D. M ‘Lean, who was greatly admired by the father. Mr John Hetit is not in the Native Department at present, that is to say since Mr M l.cm resigned. The Natives, KingiUs and friendlies propose to sett’e about Mr Firth's Matamata Eun at a meeting to be held at Maungatautari in all January next. It is supposed, however, that matters of greater importance may previously occur to stop the project. Yesterday, about S a.rn., an advmture which seemed to confirm the alleged constitutional irritability of PTenchmen, happened here to a friend of mine who was formerly an official in your Chief Post Office, an l now is the proprietor of a bookselling business. He also dispenses music literature. It appears that about a week back this gentleman was visited by a French lady, who wished to have some tattered music books rebound. My friend’s business does not include book-binding, but to oblige the lady be promised to get her commission fulfilled, by the 23rd inst., if possible, but no definite promise as to time was made, as the business was of a rather unprofitable nature, and it was doubtful if any bookbinder would care to undertake it. Yesterday morning, at an early hour, a servant-maid came for the music that was to have been repaired ; she was told it had not come from the binder, but was expected back in a few hours. Ihe maid departed, and about an hour afterwards her master, a tall powerful Frenchman, rushed distractedly, with streaming hatiess hair and disordered dress, into my friend’s premises, striking his closed fist upon the counter until the building shook. —He screamed out, “ Vese cleese music? Sacre bleu ! vere de poleesman ? Ha ! ha ! you sec dis ! (presenting a document) de leetle bill vote 1 make you pay ? Look out for hi mi —J go.” The leetle bill- is a curiosity in its way, and struck me as rather suggestive of Thackeray’s inimitable French-Ena-lish. Here it is, copied verbatim, with the exception of names Septem. 23 Mr to 23 peace of music book to be bounded to a books & the 16en. to be promesable reddy if you vill not scent those this morning reddy & I vill not kaul no more for him, be-gar I vill summons for it at once. My friend has'not yet received the summons. Many miners are leaving the Thames for the new rushes in Queensland : other miners are preparing to follow. 'I his exodus is said to be partly caused by reports which state that the proclamation that forbids a few land sharks from monopolising Coromandel and Upper Thames is about to bn withdrawn —the assertions that we hear on this subject are very positive, and are believed to be derived from authoritative sources. The Herald is exceedingly wroth with the Cross for venturing to point out the Herald's grossly inconsistent references to the Superintendent of Wellington, The Herald has of late lauded Mr Fitzherbert as an “able financier,” and everything else wise and virtuous. But one day laf t week the Herald termed his Honor “ the sturdy beggar,” and in fact made an attack which was generally deemed here unjustifiable, but euly because it eame from a professed admirer of M r Fitzherbert. The Herald now scolds the Cross as a “ thick and thin upholder of the late Government,” it is true the Cross was supposed to be an organ of the late Ministry—but I think it is generally allowed here that it was invariably moderate an I very fair ; and I frequently hear people say—“ On the the Cross is a much more reliable paper than the Herald." The Herald of this morning, in 3, leader w tych partly censures and considerably praises Mr Ormond, indicates that the Herald is ready at a moment’s notice to abandon its proud position as the organ of the present queerly constructed Ministry. The intimation was hardly needed hero, where we have §een the Herald so often turp its coat inside pqt. It is stated on good authority that the hon. member for Eden district forwarded from Wellington, per telegraph, three leading articles a week for insertion in the Herald. It is reported, with many circumstances of probability that the Hon. H. E. Russell, member of the Legislative Council, ie to be appointed agent for the whole of the East Coast. Beariug in mind that this gentleman has been officially charged with abetting ceitain frauds ; that those changes have been sustained, and are unrebutted; and moreover that he is exceedingly unpopular everywhere along the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay, it may seem strange if such au appointment is made, but they are “ wheels within wheels,” and who can say how far Mr Stafford is prepared to advance a political adherent ? We also hear, on w hat appears to be reliable authority, that Colonel Whitmore is to supersede Colonel Moule, and will besides take charge of the Colonial Stores Department Colonel Haultaiu is to receive another good appointment, but we are told that what it is to be is not yet settled. This officer worked very hard to bring about a change of Ministry, and kis great services claim recognition, and at this time the gallant Colonel retains a tolerably well paid appointment which he obtained from the late Government. Finally, it is reported that that good old man Mr Moss is to be comfortably provided for as soon as the session is over. Who has not read his contributions to a loading Otago journal ? How amusing they seemed to us, who know how greatly those contributions depended upon pure fiction. Ho is a plucky novelist, too ; for, without knowing the Natives or a word of the Maori language, he thought nothing of referring to a gentleman who is more intimately acquainted with the Native race than any other man living—as a great sham ! Truly the inhabitants of Otago are well instructed iu Native matters.

The butchers of Huddersfield have struck, and agreed to close their shops for a fortnight. Russia has now, thoroughly organised and under Government natronage and supervision, 15,000 public schools—a grand token of progress. A WonDKnruL Baby. —We hoar of an astonishing baby in Heard county, Georgia. When only nine days old, this portentous infant enunciated the words ‘ new moon” nine times very distinctly. “At every appearance of the orb in her virgin freshness,” \ve are told, “ he gives the announcement in the same way.” We suppose that the reading of his mothor must have been principally confined to almanacs; but it is at pre»eut impossible to decide whether her gifted offspring will turn out a lunatic or a celebrated professor of astronemy. (jt'or continuation of News see fourthpayc,)