BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3187, 8 May 1873, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(From the New Zealand Press Association.)

Queenstown, May 7.

At two o’clock this morning, Mr Rees’s old residence, which was of two stories in wood, was burnt down. It was sold last week by the Government to Mr Surveyor Spence, who, with his wife and children, escaped in their night clothes, saving only their lives. The building originally cost LI,OOO, and the fire was caused by the chimney taking fire. r ihe furniture was insured for LIOO, but the building was uninsured. The latter was totally destroyed in half an hour.

Clyde, May 7. Wm. Duffy, charged with an attempted rape on a girl of tender years, has been committed for trial.

Auckland, May 7,

Intelligence received yesterday states that Purukntu, with about sixty followers, was established at a place called Ngahokowhitn, on the Maungatautari Ranges. It is said that if attacked or pursued he will bo supported by “the'other side,” including, of course, the' Ngatiraukaura Hauhaus. Mr Mackay pushed on from Alexandra without interruption, and arrived at Te Kuiti on Monday night, accompanied by Hone Te One, Waraua, and Eriti Onariri, and they were well received and food given to them. A tent was erected for Mackay yesterd ay in or n - ing, where he was awakened by some one entering his tent, and looking up saw 1 before him a Maori, armed with a taiahao or long club. The man shifted bis position and weapon, so as to grasp it with both hands, evidently with intent to strike. Mr Mackay then rose into a sitting position, seized the weapon, and a struggle ensued, Mr Mackay being at a disadvantage through not being able to get upon his feet, and his assailant strove, because of his advantage, to wound Mr Mackay with the sharpened end of the taiahao. Mr Mackay cried out, and several Natives rushed into the tent and dragged the assailant out. He was found to be a Hauhau named Ruru. His capuirera at once took him before Manuwhiriri. The Natives at the settlement were generally indignant on account of the outrage. Rewi soon arrived and took Mr Mackay iway with him, remarking' that “if he wanted evil he would do it in a large way, ind not in that sneaking manner.” Mr Maccay replied that he regarded the assault as ihe act of one piau, not as the act ofehiefs.

Te added tbat without further noticing the matter, he should proceed on the business of ‘iis mission. It is much to be regretted that luring the struggle with burn, Mackay received a slight wound on the temp’e, He ii now under the j rotection of Hewi and other leading chiefs, and no further violence need be feared.

A Waikato telegram says Rewi behaved nobly in protecting Mr Mackay. The assail - ••'lit was instigated to the attempt by Nuki, the chief of Todd’s murderers.

Wellington, May 7,

The Government have received the following telegram from Mr Mackay today : —“Rewi and Manipoto are in a great rage. A meeting is going on now. Rewi has taken me to his oavh place, nnd says he will escort me back safely. Rewi came to me in a large meeting-house, and said, ‘You will not remain here now. Tawhiao and myself cannot talk to you as you have only escaped from our weapons ’ (meaning that they were so much ashamed that they could not talk).’ 1 said, *1 do not accuse you or the chiefs, as I am not killed. My blood is my own. Had I been killed it would be that'of my people. I have come to deliver a message fn m the Government, and did not intend to go back until I had done so,’ He went to Manuhiri, and on bis return said 1 1 could stop.’ Ngatimaniapoto, Waikato, and Ngatihaua are all assembled, and are discussing the attack on me. Everyone is in a state of pouri (annoyance) about it. Tawhiao is still absent. Bum belongs to the hapu who killed Todd, but I hear he is not one of the party concerned in the murder,— James Mackay, Jun.”

The following telegram has been received by the Native Minister from Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. An important Native meeting has been held at Whareora'. It is just over. About 500 Natives were present. No spirits were allowed at the meeting, and only political matters were discussed General indignation was expressed about the murder in the Walk do, which it was said all would admit to be a kobnru (murder). Almost all the Pirirakau were present.

May 8.

The Provincial Council has aba irb ned the proposed increase of the loan by L4O, 00 for immigration.

Invercargill, May 7

Mr Cuthbertson’s meeting to night was crowded, and thoroughly successful. Mr Janies Harvey, solicitor, occupied the chair. The candidate pronounced emphatically in favor of the present Ministry and their policy, advocating the energetic prosecution of public works, and especially immigration He said any blunders that had been committed by the present Government would most likely have been commuted by any other Ministry engaged in carrying out a largo scheme, and those blunders were no reason for the withdrawal of public confidence from the present Government, lie 'I--,,0rl fin.'uicial separation ; the abolition of Provinces ; free, secular, and compulsory education ; and a liberal land law to encourage settlement. A motion of confidence in -Mr I uthhertsmi Avas moved by Mr F. W. Wade, seconded by Mr launders, and carried, there being only three dissentients.

Napier. May 7

Mr William Cuckland, of Auckland, has bought Messrs Cahutt and Harris’s shares in the Grange estate, recently purchased from Mr Rhodes, and intends to start a great pressing factory there. Wn March 31 the Province had a credit balance of L 19,000.

Christchurch, May 7.

The salmon ova have been deposited in the hatching-boxes, A good proportion is considered to be in a very promising condition.

The National Bank opens a branch here next week.

The totaj receipts from the pastoral rents amount to L 50,00,0.

May 8.

The Provincial Council has voted a bonus of 1,2,000. for the establishment of a woollen manufactory-

Melbourne, May 1.

Telegrams ha,ve been received in all the Colonies from Earl Kimberley, stating that as the Colonies are not unanimous on the question of the Bue? terminus, and as there is no time for consideration hefoie the termination of the present contract, the P and O. Company offer to continue the service for two years, at the present rates, or for three years at an annual reduction of L 12,000, the steamers to call at Glcnelg in any case, Victoria will not accept; but nothing will be done until the meeting of Parliament this month. Sydney at once accepted the terms for three years. The Duke of Genoa had aipublic landing, and has visited Ballarat and other places, A human finger, recently severed, was found in the stomach of a fish caught in the bay.

The yacht Secret has been wrecked inside the harbor, and one life lost.

Heavy galea have prevailed along the coast.

Shipping. —Newcastle: Arrived, April 2B, Prospcro from Lyttelton. Sailed, April 28, Alarm for Bluff Harbor, Ben Nevis for Lyttelton, Thomas and Henry for Dunedin ; 29, Formosa for Dunedin. Melbourne : Arrived, May 1, Sarah and Mary from Greymouth, The Agra, from London to Canterbury, 63 days out, was spoken in lat, 37deg., long. 29deg. Commercial.— Large sales of sugars have taken place at an advance. M auritius news advises that the grocery sorts are in the hands of shippers, and that the market is bare; whites have been sold at an advance of 2s to 2s 6d per lOOlbn Oats very scarce ; extreme prices have been obtained : 3s 9,jd to 4s 4d. Wheat has also advanced ;Ga is asked in Adelaide. The price is 5s 3d.

Sydney,

The Hon. Saul Samuels has been appointed by the Government its representative to Washington, to arrange the Ca ifornian service. He leaves by the next steamer. Mr Wentworth’s remains have arrived from London. A public funeral takes place on the 6th inst. Two members of a suburban Catholic Church were publicly excommunicated last Sunday for marrying during Lent. The Bank of New South Wales has declared a dividend of 15 per cent.

Governor DuCane is still here on a visit.

The Marine Insurance Company unanimously resolved to support the movement to raise the London rates.

Chisholm’s estate has been sequestrated; liabilities, L 50,000.

Thursday Morning. Ann M'lverny pleaded guilty to murdering her husband,, and, was sentenced to death ; as was Murry, aged 18, for committing a murder at Aston, A white woman, 6ft. high, has been found among the Keppcl Bay Natives, She cannot apeak English, and m supposed to be the gurvivor of the ship wrecked in 1857. The gale is moderating. The Newcastle bell buoy has shifted across the harbor.